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FRONTISPIECE. 






The Golden Rock 



EDWARD S. ELLIS 

it 

AUTHOR or 

*‘the land of mystery,” “on the trail of geronimo,” 
“perils of the jungle,” etc. 



NEW YORK 

STREET & SMITH 

PUBLISHERS 


1 


/ 


THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

Two Copitd Received 

OCT. 7 1901 

Copyright entry 
CLASS ^ XXo. No. 
COPY B. 



Copyright, 1896, 

By AMERICAN PUBLISHERS' CORPORATION 


Copyright, 1901, 

By STREET & SMITH 



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6 




••• 




INTRODUCTION. 


Has the thought ever occurred to you when 
walking the streets of a great city, that you are 
passing through a world of romance, of strange 
adventure, and of wonderful experience? Have 
you ever reflected that, if the secrets which are 
carried in the breasts of the myriads whom 
you meet — perhaps without a nod of recogni- 
tion, were opened to the public gaze, they 
would prove more remarkable, more incredible 
indeed than the inventions of the novelist, or 
the flights of the wildest imagination? 

The most prosaic individual, the merchant 
absorbed in business, the husbandman at his 
daily toil, the lawyer engaged with his profes- 
sional duties, striving for fame, or perhaps 
anxious only to make a living for himself and 
the loved ones dependent upon his bounty, even 
the clerical gentleman whose energies are de- 
voted to doing his Master’s work in the great 

vineyard — all these have stored somewhere in 
1 


INTRODtJCTION. 


the misty archives of the past a history, to 
which the multitude would listen with rapt at- 
tention and breathless interest. 

I have done considerable travelling in my life, 
and have always made it a custom, when jour- 
neying for any great distance, to form ac- 
quaintances. Earely if ever do I fail to gather, 
not only valuable knowledge, but entertaining 
information. I like to ride beside the stage- 
driver, as I once did in Texas, and listen to his 
account of how he was ‘'held up” at a certain 
hill, which he pointed out, by the James and 
Younger gang; or in the smoker of the train 
with the cattle-men and cowboys; or in the 
palace car, and talk with the professional travel- 
lers and drummers. The habit not only helps 
to pass the hours that otherwise would become 
wearisome, but, as I have stated, gives one a 
knowledge which otherwise would never come 
to him. 

Some months ago I made the journey from 
Omaha to San Francisco. On the second day 
out I formed the acquaintance of an elderly 
gentleman, who offered me a cigar as I en- 
tered the smoking compartment. During the 
conversation, I learned that he was a prosper- 


INTRODUCTION. 


3 


ous merchant in the City of the Golden Gate, 
of which he had been a resident for nearly forty 
years. He was well educated, modest, but 
self-possessed, had a wide knowledge of the 
world, and especially of the plains and the 
Pacific Coast, and his talk was exceedingly en- 
tertaining. He professed to be interested in 
what I had to tell him, but I am sure it was 
not to be compared with what he related to me. 

The odd thing about him was that several 
days passed, and we were nearing our destina- 
tion, before he referred in any way to his most 
striking experience. I remarked once that 
those people who had crossed the continent be- 
fore the day of railways must be impressed by 
the striking contrast. 

‘‘Yes; it never fails to move me to wonder,” 
he replied. “I make the trip once each year, 
and it always stirs me as nothing else can.” 

“Ah, then you made the journey before the 
steam horse did?” 

He removed his cigar from between his lips, 
smiled as if to himself, and, after a moment’s 
hesitation, said, “Yes.” 

“When?” I persisted, knowing he had some- 
thing which it was worth my while to hear. 


4 


INTKODUCTION. 


‘‘In ’53: that was more than forty years 
ago. My, how time flies ! It seems but a few 
months since, and yet I was a boy at the time.” 

He fell to musing, and seeing he was in a 
reminiscent mood, I questioned him. His an- 
swers were not very satisfying for a time, but 
by and by he became interested, and in the 
end told me his story. It was a strange his- 
tory, indeed, which required several sittings 
before it was completed. He was a capital 
raconteur, and it was only now and then that I 
was obliged to ask a question. I was so struck 
with his narrative that I took full notes of it. 

When I asked permission to make use of his 
experience, he said he had no objection, pro- 
vided I veiled his identity. The truth was, the 
gentleman is such a prominent citizen of San 
Francisco, having twice been a member of the 
legislature, and holding a responsible position 
to-day, that he feared it might attract too 
much attention to him. Only his intimate 
friends knew his whole experience. He re- 
marked with a laugh that though he had the 
best wife and finest children in the world, there 
were some portions which he had kept back 
even from them. 


INTRODUCTION. 


5 


“I dislike that sort of publicity,” he added; 
“so, if you will give me another name in what 
you propose to write, why, as I have just told 
you, I shall make no objection.” 

Accordingly, in the pages which follow, the 
gentleman will figure as Eichard, or rather 
Dick Stoddard. 



THE GOLDEN ROCK 


CHAPTER I. 

LOST AND FOUND. 

There are a number of elderly people living 
to-day who will recall the strange fate of the 
Martin party, which, starting from Independ- 
ence, in the autumn of 1853, for Oregon, never, 
reached their destination. The time of their 
departure was known to their friends in the 
East, and to others on the Pacific Coast, where 
they were due some four or five months later. 
A year passed without a word being heard 
of them. Then came a rumor that they had 
lost their way among the desolate sage plains, 
and all had perished. This was followed by a 
second report that they had fallen victims to 
that band of Mormon worthies known as the 
Destroying Angels, who, it was said, had kept a 
number of the smaller children, not dreaming, 
7 


8 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


as was the case with Lee and his victims of the 
Mountain Meadow massacre, that those same 
innocent ones might some day be the means of 
bringing the miscreants to justice. 

Neither of these accounts, however, was 
true. Between three and four years after the 
disappearance of the Martin company, Dick 
Stoddard arrived in California with the first 
authentic news regarding their fate. He was 
the sole survivor of the company, and owed his 
escape to an accident, or rather to what he will 
always insist was one of the most remarkable 
providences that ever came to an individual. 

The Martin party, when it started from In- 
dependence, included twelve men, eight of 
whom had their wives with them, besides more 
than a dozen children. Dick Stoddard was a 
youth of fifteen, without father or mother, and 
with no living relatives except Mr. Martin and 
his wife, who were his uncle and aunt. The 
3"outh was strong, sturdy, and active, and was 
jubilant over the prospect of the long journey 
across the plains, which to him indeed promised 
to be one continuous picnic. He owned a 
small, fine rifie, and a swift, good-tempered 
pony. He was a favorite with the company, 


LOST AND FOUND. 


9 


for his skill with his gun often enabled him to 
secure the choicest game, of which there was 
an abundance in those days. 

He caused his friends much worriment, how- 
ever, by his venturesome habit of riding out of 
sight of camp, and remaining sometimes until 
nightfall. The greatest danger to the early emi- 
grants was always from Indians, who seemed 
to hang on the flanks of the parties, almost 
from the hour they were out of sight of civili- 
zation. In many an instance they cut off large 
parties and massacred them all, even though 
the defence was of the stoutest character. 

Several days having passed without any sign 
of the red men, Dick Stoddard leaped into the 
saddle of his pony, and galloped off for a hunt. 
His uncle cautioned him to be careful not to 
wander beyond sight, and he promised to do so. 
He broke his word before he knew it, for a 
party of antelope drew him so far over ridges, 
swells of the prairies, and a small stream, that 
when he turned to ride back, about the middle 
of the afternoon, he not only failed to see any- 
thing of the line of white-topped wagons, hut 
had lost his bearings altogether. 

While hunting here and there, the sound of 


10 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


distant firing was heard to the left. Galloping 
to the top of the nearest high ground, he made 
the terrifying discovery that his friends were 
fighting for life against an overwhelming 
party of Indians, who were so numerous in- 
deed that they did not hesitate to attack openly 
and in daylight. 

In his distress and anxiety, Dick Stoddard 
started to ride directly into the fray, to the 
help of those who were so dear to him. Before 
he came within gunshot, he was seen by the 
Indians, three of whom gave chase. Com- 
pelled to flee for his own life, he put his pony 
to his best paces, and the faithful animal soon 
carried him beyond reach of all danger. His 
pursuers drew off, and returned to join in the 
pillage of the train. 

Dick spent most of the dreadful night alone 
on the prairie, too overcome to sleep, though he 
lay on the ground, with his faithful animal 
cropping the grass near. He relied upon him 
to warn him of the approach of danger, as he 
had done in more than one instance. There 
was no fear of his deserting the lad, for his in- 
telligence was as remarkable as his affection 
for his young master. 


LOST AND FOUND. 


11 


It had not yet become light, and the moon 
was shining, when Jack, the pony, emitted a 
slight whinny, and came softly to where Dick 
was lying on his blanket on the ground. The 
youth was up in an instant, for he knew what 
that meant. Danger was near. 

He climbed into the saddle, and waited until 
he could tell the point whence the peril threat- 
ened. Jack was looking to the right, his deli- 
cate ears thrown forward, while he breathed 
a little faster than usual through his silken 
nostrils. 

Suddenly the outlines of a horseman showed 
in the moonlight, and Dick was about to fling 
himself forward on the neck of his steed and 
dash off, when to his astonishment a voice 
called to him from the gloom : 

“ Don’t be in a hurry, pard ! I’m half white, 
and I reckon you are.” 

Astonished beyond measure at being ad- 
dressed in this fashion, Dick waited until the 
stranger approached. He then perceived that 
he was a large, muscular man, dressed in a 
mongrel costume, half savage, but mounted on 
a fine animal. 

He leaned over his saddle and peered into the 


12 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


face of the lad, as he rode alongside and halted. 
Evidently he was surprised at the youth of 
Dick. 

You look rather young to be alone in these 
parts,’’ he remarked, still scrutinizing him 
closely; who are you?” 

Dick gave his name, and briefly told how it 
was he was alone in that particular spot at that 
hour. 

“So you b’longed to that party over to the 
west’rd, eh? Wal, I don’t want to hurt your 
feelings, younker, but every one of ’em has 
been sent under by the reds; thar isn’t one of 
’em left, and it was blamed lucky for you that 
you was off on your little hunt at the time the 
biz was going on.” 

I feared so, ’’replied Dick, with a quavering 
voice, and trying in vain to keep back the tears; 
“are you sure none is alive?” 

Not one,” replied the trapper, in a voice 
which showed some huskiness. “It’s blamed 
rough, but them things happen in this part of 
the world every now and then. I heerd the 
firing, and, when it was night, sneaked up nigh 
enough to see how things was. The varmints 
made a clean job of it this time. I’m sorry 


LOST AND FOUND. 


13 


for you, younker; did you have any relatives 
among ’em?” 

Dick told his story, to which the rough look- 
ing man listened kindly. When it was 
through, he asked : 

“What do you want to do?” 

“I am at a loss to say: what do you advise 
me to do?” 

“ I don’t ’spose you want to turn back home, 
though you might reach it in a few days with 
that likely boss you have, and it’s too fur for 
you to try to ride across the country alone. 
You might find some other party going the 
same way, though this ain’t the season when 
most of the emigrants start west. S’pose you 
go ’long with me?” 

Dick looked at him in surprise. 

“They call me Black Sam, ’cause I ’spose 
my face ain’t as lily white as yourn and some 
other people. I’m making a tower through 
the country on a little bus’ness of my own. 
The winter time is the season for hunting and 
trapping, and cold weather will soon be here. 
I’ll be glad to take you along, if you can make 
up your mind to stand me.” 

With little hesitation, Dick Stoddard ac- 


14 


THE GOLDEN ROCK 


cepted the offer of Black Sam, who, despite 
his forbidding exterior, evidently had a kind 
heart. The two rode slowly away together, 
passing over a ridge and into a deep hollow, 
through which wound a small stream of water. 
There they dismounted, and the trapper told 
his young friend to sleep while he had the 
chance, for in that part of the world there 
was no saying when he would gain another 
opportunity. 

It was near morning, but the worn-out boy, 
spreading his blanket on the ground, soon fell 
mto a deep slumber, which was not broken 
until the forenoon was well advanced. 

At the time of which we are speaking, the 
bison or buffaloes were so numerous on the 
Western plains that a child would have had no 
difficulty in bringing them down. Their de- 
struction became so wanton and wholesale that, 
as is known, they have been virtually exter- 
minated. 

The trapper had shot one, and a nice well- 
browned steak awaited Dick Stoddard, who, 
despite the crushing affliction he had under- 
gone, possessed a vigorous appetite. Then, as 
their horses were in excellent condition, they 


LOST and found. 


15 


mounted and resumed their journey toward 
the northwest. 

They rode at a leisurely pace through a 
country which steadily became rougher and 
more hilly. A long halt was made in the 
afternoon, when they pushed on until the moon 
was shining again. 

“Where will we get supper?” asked Dick, 
who could not see the need of riding after the 
day was over. 

“ Not far ahead. Did you notice the bufHers 
back yonder?” 

“No,” replied the surprised youth, looking 
around, as if he expected to see a herd of the 
animals. 

“I haven’t obsarved any either,” remarked 
the trapper, “but I sorter feel in my bones that 
we’ll sink our teeth in buffler steak afore 
sun-up.” 

“Isn’t that a hill right in front of us?” 

“It’s a sort of ridge, and there’s wood and 
water on tother side, which is whar we’re going 
to camp.” 

“But where are the buffaloes?” 

“ On top of the ridge. Look sharp, and tell 
me if you don’t see one of the critters.” 


16 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


“Yes— -there he is in plain sight. He is a 
big bull.” 

When a point was reached where the huge 
creature was in full view, it was seen that he 
was gradually working his way over to the 
other side, where a number of his companions 
were browsing. 

If we go too close we’ll scare him away,” 
said Sam, “so I’ll jump off, and slip up nigh 
’nough to fetch him down, while you stay 
here.” 

From his position on his pony Dick Stoddard 
saw the hunter cautiously ascend one side of 
the ridge, just as the buffalo, which had sniffed 
danger in the air, bustled down the other side. 

No time was to be lost, and the active and 
swift-footed trapper hurried up the slope, his 
long, graceful form being visible for a few 
seconds, as it took the place formerly held by 
the game, and was marked against the sky. 

He was no more than fairly out of sight 
when the report of his rifle was heard, and the 
same instant he gave utterance to a sharp 
whistle, repeated three times. 

The same instant, his horse, that had been 
standing motionless, threw up his head, with 


LOST AND FOUND. 


17 


a slight whinny, and started on a trot up the 
slope. Dick called to him to stop, but he gave 
no heed, and the lad then understood that he 
was obeying a signal from his master, and he 
hurried after him. 

As the boy reached the top of the ridge he 
observed the hunter below, engaged in dress- 
ing the buffalo. 

Sam had done quick work, sending his shot 
straight home to the seat of life, and, running 
up to the animal as he was making his last 
struggles, rolled him upon his face, doubling 
his legs under him in such a position that he 
was not likely to fall either way. 

When Dick reached his friend he was run- 
ning his knife along the spine of the buffalo. 
The edge of the weapon was keen, and one 
sweep was enough. Grasping the skin with 
both hands, he peeled it down each side, like 
bark, exposing the flesh to view. Then, with 
the same sharp implement, he cut two large 
slices, and he was through with the animal. 

After extracting the portion mentioned, the 
rest of the bulky creature was left to decay, or 
to feed the maws of ravening wolves. It 
seemed to be a law in these days that nine- 
2 


18 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


tenths of the buffalo meat of the country should 
go to waste, tens of thousands of the animals 
being slain every year in the mere wantonness 
of sport, until now, as before stated, the bison 
has been virtually exterminated. 

Now, the next thing is to gather plenty of 
fuel, and you can help do that, Dick.’' 

The boy did all he could, and in a short time 
they had collected more than enough for their 
purpose. 

The manner of cooking the steaks was as 
follows: The ‘‘hunks” that had been taken 
from the game were cut into thin slices, which 
were skewered on green sticks and held to the 
flame, and placed so as to miss touching the 
glowing coals by about the breadth of a sheet 
of paper. 

In this way the supper of the hungry travel- 
lers was speedily prepared, and being seasoned 
with some pepper and salt, a goodly portion of 
which Black Sam always carried with him, the 
meat was all that an epicure could have asked. 

After supper came the corncob pipe, and the 
two made themselves comfortable by wrapping 
their blankets around them, even though the 
fire was allowed to die out gradually, it being 


LOST AND FOUND. 


19 


a principle with Black Sam never to burn a 
camp-fire all night, when it was possible to 
avoid it, while in the Indian country. 

The horses were so accustomed to this sort 
of life that all that was necessary was to leave 
them to themselves. There was grass richer 
than the night before, and water; and animals 
born and reared in these regions very rarely 
required anything else. 

The hunter had just settled himself into a 
pleasant position to respond to the favor Dick 
had asked for, a story, when both heard the re- 
port of a rifle in a northern direction, and not 
far away. 

“I don’t like that!” exclaimed Sam, quickly 
straightening up and looking about him. 

‘‘Why not? They didn’t fire at us, did 
they?” 

Instead of answering, the trapper began 
hastily pulling up roots, dirt, and stuff, and 
throwing them on the smouldering fire, so as 
to extinguish it at once. 

But a few minutes passed, when, where the 
embers had been but a short time before, all 
was blank darkness, with a thick smoke slowly 
creeping upward, and fast dying out. 


20 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


Thon Sam sat down close to the boy, and 
said, in an undertone: 

‘‘You heerd that ’ere gun just now, didn’t 
you?” 

‘ Yes. What made you jump when it went 
off?” 

“ Why, it was fired by In jins, and they ain’t 
friendly Pawnees. It won’t do for them to see 
our camp-fire, for they would be apt to call 
on us.” 

“Don’t you think they did see the fire before 
the gun went off?” 

No, that couldn’t be, for if they knowed 
we’d started it they wouldn’t have shot.” 

“But they must have heard you when you 
shot the buffalo.” 

“ Of course, but they thought it was one of 
thar own varmints, and so didn’t pay attention 
to it.” 

Dick might have asked in return by what 
means the hunter could know that the gun just 
fired was in the hands of a hostile Indian. 
Had he been asked, the probability is he 
would have found it hard to tell; nevertheless, 
he was as certain of the fact as he was of his 
own existence. 


LOST AND FOUND. 


21 


As the two sat, the ridge was on one side, 
while they were seated among some stunted 
undergrowth, just the thing in which to conceal 
themselves, in the semi-darkness of this un- 
usually bright moonlight night, both being in 
shadow. 

They were at the base of a ridge, close to a 
stream of water, broad and deep enough to 
deserve the name of creek, the shores of which 
were lined with the same stunted vegetation. 

The report of the rifle acquainted the two in- 
telligent horses with the nearness of danger, 
and they became the most vigilant sentinels on 
the instant. 

“Now, I don’t want you to speak louder 
than a whisper,” said Sam, “and you must 
keep your eyes and ears open, and the very 
minute you see or hear anything, let me know, 
and I’ll tell you what to do, if you’re to do it.” 

This was a trying position in which to place 
such a boy as Dick Stoddard, and, of course, 
it was out of the question that he should have 
any intelligent idea of what really impended , 
but he was resolved to do his duty until he 
went to sleep, which he was equally determined 
should not be before the succeeding night, and 


22 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


not even then, unless his companion declared 
it was safe to do so. 

All that Sam expected was that the lad 
would keep awake for half an hour, perhaps, 
and he considered him more useful asleep than 
conscious on such an occasion as this. 

As the two friends sat, the back of the man 
was toward the ridge, while Dick faced it. 
Both were in such deep shadow that the moon- 
light did not touch them, and no one could see 
either until within a few feet. 

It will be understood that if the camp-fire 
had been allowed to burn, it would have made 
them conspicuous objects for any Indians that 
might be prowling in the vicinity. 

Following out his custom, Sam had stationed 
his own horse on his right and the pony on the 
left, so that, if both did their duty, they would 
make known the approach of any hostiles from 
that other direction. 

He would have preferred that the relative 
position of the animals were reversed, so that 
his own might have had the station nearest 
the point from which he believed the danger 
was most likely to come, but it was unwise to 
make the change now. 


Lost A^^D founI). 


23 


Th-ere was still the possibility that the In- 
dians, whom Sam believed to he Sioux, were 
unsuspicious of the presence of whites near 
them, and it was not impossible that they 
would leave the vicinity without a collision. 

The trapper believed that a party of Sioux 
were hunting near there, drawn by the well- 
known fact already referred to — that this was 
a favorite resort of the buffaloes, and that the 
group descried by him were remarkably large 
and fine. 

These redskins, whom he had good reason 
for distrusting, had taken his shot for that of 
one of their own number. 

The camp-fire was enough to betray the 
identity of those who kindled it, but it looked 
as if a strange run of good fortune had kept 
that also from them, the shot having been fired 
when the fuel was pretty well burned out. 

Should it so be that the Sioux suspected the 
presence of enemies among the bushes at the 
bottom of the ridge, they had one of their 
favorite systems of reconnoissance and warfare 
at their command. 

The thick undergrowth gave them a chance 
to steal up like so many serpents, it requiring 


24 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


the sharpest kind of ears to detect them, while 
the creek would permit them to float down- 
ward, or work their way upward, absolutely 
without noise. 

It was, indeed, the most inviting kind of 
‘‘pasture” for all sorts of redskins. 

This same place had been the scene of more 
than one desperate affray between Sam and the 
Sioux, and he held it in wholesome fear when 
he was trammelled by furs and peltries, or 
when, as on the present occasion, he had some 
one that was dependent upon him. 

When alone, with his intelligent horse to 
assist him, he was confident of his ability to 
pull through all right, and make it costly to 
the redskins that attempted to disturb him. 

The two sat a few minutes in silence, when 
he leaned over and spoke in a guarded voice to 
the boy : 

“I ain’t sartin, Dick, whether the redskins 
have found out we’re here. If three or four 
hours passes without the bosses makin’ any 
stamp, or our seein’ or bearin’ anything, you 
can make up your mind that they’ve gone and 
the way is clear. Do you b’lieve you can keep 
awake that long?” 


LOST AND FOUND. 


25 


“Why, of course. I can keep awake just as 
long as you.’’ 

“I’m glad to hear it; and you’d like to help, 
too. Wal, what I want you to do is to keep 
your peepers on the ridge, and the very minute 
you see a redskin let me know. Will you do 
it?” 

“Yes. You may be sure of that.” 

Sam chuckled to himself, for he was certain 
that, long before the hoy would see any Sioux 
stealing over the crest, he would be far gone 
in the land of dreams. 

The task of playing sentinel at such a time 
is similar, in some respects, to the sport of the 
fisherman. 

Hours may pass before there’s a bite or a 
sign of coming danger, and yet the man antici- 
pates it every minute, and is sustained by the 
excitement of expectancy, when, under other 
circumstances, the passage of time would be 
dreary and dismal to the last degree. 

At the end of an hour, Sam was confident 
that Dick was asleep, but, to make sure, he 
leaned over and pronounced his name. 

“Well, what do you want?” was the instant 
inquiry. 


26 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


“What you doin’?” 

“Watching that ridge, as you told me to do !” 

So much time had passed since the firing of 
the gun without bringing anything to cause 
alarm, that the hunter was becoming quite 
hopeful, and it was in a jocose vein, therefore, 
that he followed up the reply of the boy with 
another question : 

“Have you seen any of the redskins?” 

“Yes, I see two now.” 

“ Whar’s that?” demanded Sam, in a husky 
whisper. 

“Up there on the ridge.” 

The hunter turned his head like a flash, and 
the very first glance showed him that Dick 
Stoddard had spoken nothing but the truth. 


CHAPTEE II. 


DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. 

Black Sam, the trapper, was crouching in 
the undergrowth, near the extinguished camp- 
fire, when Dick Stoddard told him there were 
a couple of Indian warriors skulking along on 
the ridge above. The man turned with light- 
ning quickness, and saw them both. 

They had no doubt come up from the other 
side of the slope, and were crawling on their 
hands and knees, when, as they reached the 
crest, their heads and shoulders were seen in 
distinct relief against the moonlit sky beyond. 

This was inevitable from the nature of things, 
and the Sioux seemed to awaken to the fact, 
for they were scarcely seen when they sank 
down again out of sight, no doubt concluding 
that it was better to adopt some other line of 
advance. 

It being impossible that they should see the 
site of the camp-fire, where it was in utter 
27 


28 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


darkness, almost any one would have wondered 
by what means the Sioux had located it. 

In this instance it must have been done 
through the sense of smell. The grass and 
stuff thrown on the embers to extinguish them 
caused a damp, earth-like odor, which could 
be detected by any one near-by, without his 
olfactories being very highly trained. 

The fact that the fire was out would tell the 
Sioux that, whoever the whites were, they had 
learned of their danger, and consequently 
there was certain to be the greatest caution 
upon both sides. 

For ten minutes or so after the disappear- 
ance of the redskins from the top of the ridge, 
Sam and Dick never once removed their eyes 
from it, nor did they speak to each other. The 
silence was undisturbed by the slightest sound, 
until at the end of the time mentioned the 
faint stamp of a horse’s hoofs was heard. 

“That’s my boss,” whispered the hunter. 
“Some of the varmints are sneakin’ ’bout 
him, and as soon as he finds it out he lets us 
know it. Now, listen, Dick. They’ve found 
out whar the camp-fire is, and they’ll be here 
purty soon. We must dig out, a little way, so 


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DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. 


29 


they won’t know whar to place thar paws onto 
us. I’ll crawl off here some twenty feet or so, 
and you must follow me on your hands and 
knees. Can you do it without making a 
noise?” 

“ Of course I can ; you seem to think I can’t 
do anything.” 

‘‘Come ahead then, and try it.” 

The two crept forward with so much care 
that the distance was accomplished in utter 
silence, and it was safe for them to feel that 
the movement was entirely unsuspected by the 
nearest and most vigilant of the redskins. 

That done, they settled down again to listen 
and watch in the darkness of the undergrowth. 

The change of position brought them within 
less than ten feet of the creek, from which they 
were separated by a rank growth of vegetation. 

Black Sam was expecting an approach by 
means of the water, he knowing that it was a 
favorite practice with the redskins to take ad- 
vantage of such help, and he had not been in 
his new position long when he became certain 
that some of the Sioux were in the creek. 

His trained ear caught the softest possible 
rustle— not like the cautious movement of a 


30 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


paddle, nor such as would have come from a 
hunter wading in the creek. 

It puzzled him for a minute, as it was not 
only peculiar, but very faint. It was as if he 
were trying to decipher some palimpsest, in 
which the writing was poor, and blurred be- 
yond recognition. 

He placed his ear to the ground, but that 
did not help him. Then he raised his head 
again, and all at once solved the mystery. 

An Indian was coming up the stream in a 
canoe, not using a paddle, but drawing himself 
forward by grasping the overhanging branches 
and twigs. This was a very easy method of 
propulsion, and the vegetation being abundant, 
the hostile had the opportunity to continue it 
indefinitely. 

This form of danger was so close that it 
would not do to whisper, and Sam touched 
Dick, as a warning to him against stirring or 
saying anything. 

The stealthy progress of the redskin in the 
canoe continued until he had passed a short 
distance beyond where the two whites were 
crouching. Then the utter silence that suc- 
ceeded showed he had come to a standstill. 


DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. 


31 


He was probably looking and listening, and 
smelling for some clue as to where the whites 
were. 

He didn’t get it, for the latter knew too well 
what he was after. 

After a few minutes, a rustling, gliding 
sound showed that the Sioux, by means of the 
locomotion already described, was drawing the 
nose of his canoe far enough among the un- 
dergrowth along the shore to hold it there, if 
he should leave it. 

Leave it he did, as soon as it was secured. 
Black Sam hearing distinctly the sound of the 
moccasin as it touched the ground for the first 
time. 

It was impossible for the Sioux to advance or 
retreat without betraying himself to the listen- 
ing trapper, who was speedily convinced of the 
nasal keenness of the fellow when, after leav- 
ing the canoe, he headed toward the site of the 
camp-fire. 

As Sam and Dick had shifted their position, 
there was little likelihood of their being dis- 
covered, by this scout, at least. 

It will be understood that the latter was do- 
ing a very daring thing, even for an Indian. 


32 


the golden rock. 


It was impossible that he should know pre- 
cisely where the whites were, while he must 
have known that it was almost equally im- 
possible that he should not betray himself. 

These considerations made Black Sam 
angry. 

“He must take me for a fool, and when 
a varmint does that, I’ll make him pay 
for it.” 

The trapper had drawn his pistol, he pre- 
ferring that in such an encounter, although 
there was great risk of his betraying himself 
to other enemies in the vicinity. 

The Sioux was not erect, nor was he upon 
his hands and knees, but was pushing forward 
in a stooping position, so that his full physical 
resources were at instant command in case of 
a collision with any of the whites. 

He was groping about, listening and search- 
ing for some clew to the position of the latter 
so that he might return and bring a force of 
his people that would be able to work under- 
standingly. 

The trapper had now got things down so fine 
a e was able to tell precisely the -different 
turns of his enemy, while making this recon- 


DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. 


33 


noissance, although as yet he had not caught 
the first glimpse of him. 

The advantage, therefore, was altogether on 
the side of the white man. 

He was so close to the surface of the ground, 
and so concealed, that it was practically im- 
possible to see him, while the Indian could not 
approach within striking distance without be- 
traying himself. 

It looked as if the Sioux were sure to do 
that, for he persevered in his cautious scout, 
as if he were resolved to stick to it until some- 
thing definite was accomplished. 

This catlike manoeuvring was kept up foi 
ten minutes longer, when the sagacious horse 
of the trapper stamped his feet again, and his 
master knew that the red men were becoming 
dangerously numerous. 

The instant the steed gave his warning, the 
Sioux stopped abruptly, straightened up, and 
assumed the attitude of attention. 

It looked as if he were not precisely certain 
what it signified. 

At the time he made this movement, he was 
so close to the trapper that the latter caught 

the outlines of his head and shoulders. 

3 


the golden rock. 

No better opportunity was needed, and the 
instant he was sure of his man, Sam levelled 
his revolver and fired. 

He was as skilful with the pistol as with the 
rifle, and the distance was so short that it was 
scarcely possible that he should miss. 

There was a cry, a leap, and a threshing of 
the bushes, and then all was still. 

It was a fearful thing thus to shoot down an 
enemy, and Sam would not have done it had 
he not known that the safety of himself and 
the boy depended upon who should secure the 
first shot. 

“Now we must shift again,” he whispered 
to Dick. “More of the varmints will be pok- 
ing ’round this way, and it won’t do for us to 
stay whar we be. Foller me, and don’t make 
no more noise than you did afore.” 

In this second change of position Sam moved 
so slowly that Dick was able to keep close to 
him, and guide himself by the sense of touch. 

The distance was so short that only a few 
minutes were needed, when they came to a halt 
again in as deep shadow as before, each certain 
that he had not betrayed himself in moving 
from one point to another. 


DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. 


35 


It may be said that the boy was becoming 
rapidly initiated into the perils of frontier life, 
and the immunity that he had enjoyed thus 
far served to give him a greater confidence 
than he would have felt had he been older. 

As is always the case in this sort of business, 
there was much wearisome waiting between 
the acts of the tragedy. 

Following on the shots of the trapper came 
complete silence. 

The other Sioux must have known from the 
cry that one of their number had fallen, and 
yet the succeeding hour passed as though they 
were not within a thousand miles. 

Instead of rushing forward to avenge their 
comrade, they remained quiet. 

And Black Sam was well aware that these 
minutes of silence were busily occupied by the 
redskins surrounding them, who were only 
waiting until they could assure themselves as 
to how the blow could be struck. 

It was their task to learn this, and it was the 
province of Sam to learn how they were seek- 
ing to gain that “point.” 

When the hour had passed, the trapper was 
a little surprised that it had continued so long. 


36 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


and it struck him that it might be the Sioux 
were seeking to give the impression that they 
had departed, so as to throw him off the 
guard. 

He expected that some of them would come 
forward to withdraw the body of their com- 
rade, and he paid close attention to that point, 
confident that it could not be done without his 
knowledge. 

At the end of the hour, Sam decided to do a 
little scouting for himself. 

He was not desirous of spending the whole 
night in skirmishing back and forth in this 
fashion, with the prospect that the morning 
would bring his discomfiture. 

“Dick, ’’he said, turning his head, “will you 
stay right here for less nor a half-hour, while 
I rampage around a little?” 

There was no answer to this, and the trapper 
repeated it, and then answered it himself. 

“Yas, I guess he’ll stay thar, bein’ as he’s 
sleepin’ like a log.” 

Such was the fact. 

Just when Dick was sure he was in the 
widest-av/ake condition he could be, he sank 
into the dreamless slumber of childhood, 


DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. 


37 


breathing so softly that the vigilant ears of his 
friend had failed to notice it. 

Sam paused a ’while to consider ’whether it 
was best to leave him where he lay, or whether 
he ought to shift the lad’s position. 

‘‘If I move him somewhere else,” he said to 
himself, “and tell him to keep awake, he 
won’t hold out ten minutes, and I don’t know 
whar I could stow him that he’d be safer 
than he is here, onless I anchor him in the 
creek.” 

So, after considering all things, he decided 
that he couldn’t do any better than leave him 
where he was. He was sure of his own ability 
to detect the purpose and plans of the hostiles 
without leaving his young friend for any length 
of time, and the Indians having held off so 
long, it would seem that it was one of the most 
improbable things in the world that the boy 
should be found during the brief time he pur- 
posed to be away. 

With very little apprehension of misfortune, 
then, the hunter crawled out from his hiding- 
place, and in his stealthy, silent manner, moved 
in the direction of the ridge where the redskins 
had first been discovered. 


38 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


He took care not to commit the blunder of 
these two Indians who advertised themselves 
by appearing on the very crest of the ridge, 
where they were seen with a distinctness 
scarcely less than that of midday. 

It was his expectation that some of his 
enemies would take advantage of the creek, 
which, as we have already said, is a favorite 
means of advance and retreat to those of that 
race; but, with the single exception, they had 
not done so, and he now turned to the right 
and moved along through the deep protecting 
shadow of the undergrowth, expecting every 
minute to get the clew for which he was so 
anxious. 

The hunter had progressed perhaps fifty feet, 
when he became aware that the moon was so 
high in the heavens that a great deal more of 
its light was creeping about him than was 
agreeable. Still, he was sanguine of keeping 
his movements concealed, and he went nearly 
as much farther, when he found out that he 
was in the immediate vicinity of fully half-a- 
dozen Sioux warriors. 

They were grouped together, where it would 
seem they had repeated the performance of 


DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. 


30 


Black Sam, who started the camp-fire and 
afterward extinguished it. 

Here it was that the increasing moonlight 
proved of a special advantage to the hunter, 
for it had crept along through the undergrowth 
until a slight portion of it struck the tufted 
head of a redskin, who, moving his head a 
little to one side to reach the shadow again, did 
so just in time to permit the trapper to see it. 

This was enough for Sam, who manoeuvred 
with such celerity and skill, that only a few 
minutes were required for him to find out that 
there were precisely a half-dozen, who were 
discussing their business in such a jerky way, 
and in such guarded voices, that it was out of 
the question for him to catch a syllable of what 
was uttered. 

Being quite an adept in the Sioux tongue, 
he regretted very much that he failed in this 
respect, for a few words would have given him 
all the knowledge he wanted. 

Having waited as long as he dared, he drew 
back and began his cautious return to his 
young friend. Black Sam had formed his 
theory of the motives and course of the Indians 
that were so anxious for his death. 


40 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


Their first warrior having failed to bring 
them the information they wished, they had 
sent back an equally skilful one in quest of 
the same knowledge, their action as a whole 
depending upon the message which he should 
bring. 

If he should tell them precisely the number 
of the foe, and his position, then they were 
confident that the task of wiping him out would 
be a slight one. 

Black Sam was a little apprehensive, after 
reaching this conclusion and starting on his 
return. 

“ That ’ere varmint may get to pokin’ ’round 
’mong the bushes, and tumble over the 
younker, and then thar’ll be the deuce to pay, 
fur I’m never gwine to dig out of these parts 
and leave that ’ere chick behind, not much.” 

It was this fear that caused him to move 
with celerity to his own extinguished camp- 
fire, listening and looking with all the skill at 
his command while on the way. 

Despite the darkness, he was so familiar 
with the section that he was able to locate 
every point as well as if the sun instead of the 
moon was shining, and in this way he lost no 


DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. 


41 


time in reaching the place where, about a 
half-hour before, he had separated from the 
unconscious Dick Stoddard. 

The same profound stillness reigned as be- 
fore, and he was hopeful that the place had 
not been visited during his absence. 

With this hope, he crept forward, groping 
on his hands and knees, expecting to touch the 
sleeping form. 

But he moved along until he had gone eight 
or ten feet beyond it, and all the time he found 
him not. 

“By gracious!” he gasped, when there could 
no longer be any doubt, “Dick has been 
stole !” 

He lay for a moment or two longer, debating 
with himself what was best to do under the 
circumstances, if indeed there was any possi- 
bility of his doing anything at all. 

The trapper had been in so many “scrim- 
mages” and difficulties with all sorts of Indians 
that he had learned to think and act on the 
instant. 

There were but two possible explanations of 
Dick’s disappearance. 

He had shifted his position himself, or some 


42 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


prowling hostile had discovered and taken him 
away. 

Sam believed that the latter theory was the 
true one, but as the former was possibly true, 
he spent several minutes in searching through 
the undergrowth, indulging now and then in 
his cautious whistle that the boy had learned 
to recognize. 

When he had described several widening 
circles around the spot, without finding him, 
all doubts were removed as to the cause of his 
disappearance. 

“'Some varmint has run off with him, and 
it’s the last boy that he’ll ever run off with. 
He’ll larn, like some other folks has lamed, 
that that sort of bus’ness don’t pay.” 

In his characteristic way he recalled that, 
while he himself was going to and returning 
from the group of Sioux warriors, he had heard 
nothing of the Indian concerned in this abduc- 
tion, consequently he must have taken a dif- 
erent route. 

What was his most probable course? 

The creek. 

Acting in this belief, he immediately made his 
way to the margin of the stream, and listened 


DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. 


43 


Nothing was heard, and recollecting the spot 
where the canoe had been left, he insinuated 
his way to that, using his long arms and hands 
to the utmost. 

The canoe was gone / 

The matter was becoming clearer. The 
fragments of his theory began to fit each other. 

“ That ar varmint has found the chick asleep, 
has picked him up and toted him off to the 
canoe — — ” 

He paused abruptly in his mutterings and, 
gliding back a short distance, examined the 
spot where the Indian had fallen by his re- 
volver. 

The body of the warrior was also gone ! 

The fragments of the theory now fitted each 
other perfectly. 

‘‘ That varmint has put the chap that I wiped 
out inter the canoe, and then sat the chick in 
thar to make ballast, and has started down 
the creek with ’em.” 

In such a task the red scout was sure to 
move slowly, and Sam was hopeful of heading 
off the canoe before it could reach a point 
where its manager would leave it. 

Accordingly he cut across, as it may be 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


termed, and with some little risk of exposing 
himself by his haste, he clambered down to 
the margin of the creek, where the overhang- 
ing undergrowth was dense as above. 

Then he bent his head and listened; and, 
with a satisfied thrill, he caught the soft rus- 
tle made by a body insinuating itself among 
the leaves of a tree. 

The canoe was above him, and coming down 
toward the very spot where he was crouching 
like a tiger ready to spring upon its prey. 

There was no sound of paddle, nor the faint- 
est ripple of water. 

The boat was simply drifting with the cur- 
rent, near enough to the shore to cause some 
vegetation to brush softly over it and its oc- 
cupants. 

This was the sound the trapper heard, and 
that caused him to feel certain he had reached 
the spot in the nick of time. 

During the few seconds he was waiting, he 
slipped his rifle over his back, securing it there 
very quickly, and in such a way that the stock 
and lock were above his head, so that they 
would remain dry in case of his entering the 
water, unless he should indulge in one of his 


DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. 


45 


tremendously long dives, which he knew how 
to make in cases of emergency. 

He did not mean to shoot the Indian unless 
it became necessary. They were so close to the 
Sioux camp that a collision would he pretty 
sure to bring the whole party down upon him 
before he could comfortably get out of the 
way, while if events should go on as he was 
quite confident they would, he saw his way 
clear toward accomplishing his purpose with- 
out incurring any such risk. 

The current of the creek was slow, and as 
the canoe was retarded by the brushing of the 
limbs and leaves over it, its progress was any- 
thing but rapid. 

But Black Sam waited with characteristic 
patience for the coming of the moment when 
he should act. 


CHAPTEE IIL 

THE LAND OF THE SIOUX. 

Here and there splinters of moonlight found 
their way through the branches overhead, and, 
as the trapper crouched down and peered in- 
tently up-stream, he strove to his utmost to 
catch a glimpse of his approaching enemy. 

But neither the Indian nor the canoe was 
visible, although he knew they were within a 
dozen feet. 

A few seconds more, and there came a 
slight ripple, and the rustle of the boat as the 
nose was forced up the bank. 

It had stopped, and whoever was in it meant 
to land. 

Black Sam moved still nearer, so as to be 
ready to act in the crisis which was at hand. 

He was well convinced that there was but a 
single live Sioux in the canoe, and in leaving 
it he would either make separate journeys in 

which to carry the body of his dead comrade 
46 


THE LAND OF THE SIOUX. 


47 


and that of the sleeping boy, or he would sig- 
nal to one of the warriors near at hand to 
come and take one while he took the other. 

In case of the latter, then the trapper meant 
to spring forward instantly, and secure his 
young friend before assistance could reach the 
Indian. 

But in case the latter chose to manage the 
whole affair himself, then the course of the 
hunter would be governed by the nature of 
the first load the redskin took from the boat. 

All was not such utter darkness that Sam 
was not able to distinguish the figure of the 
warrior, as he stepped from the canoe and 
pulled it up far enough to prevent its being 
carried away by the current. 

Then he observed him, as he bent over the 
frail structure, and busied himself for a mo- 
ment in lifting something from within. 

Was his burden the sleeping Dick Stoddard, 
or the eternally sleeping warrior? 

A minute after, the Indian partly straight- 
ened up, and began moving off with his charge. 

Thank fortune, it was all that was left of 
bis brother-warrior ! 

He had taken scarcely a dozen steps, when 


48 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


Sam had one hand upon the gunwale, while 
the other ranged hastily along the interior, 
searching for his young friend. 

Yes, there he was, sleeping as sweetly as if 
lying upon his own pillow hundreds of miles 
away. 

The hunter did not pause to wake him, or 
soliloquize over the way in which his calcula- 
tions had succeeded, but he reaped the fullest 
advantage by prompt action. 

The unsuspicious Sioux had not yet reached 
the group who were awaiting him, when Black 
Sam shoved the craft back in the water, step- 
ping softly into it as it glided out from the 
shore. 

Groping in the bottom, he found the long 
ashen paddle, and the small rifle that belonged 
to Dick. 

“He stole the whole shebang,” muttered the 
trapper; “which I’m glad of, for it saved me 
the trouble of goin’ back thar agin to hunt it 
up.” 

Time was so valuable that he could not 
afford to wait for the current to carry him 
along, but he plied the paddle with a power 
which sent the canoe spinning downward in 


THE LAND OF THE SIOUX. 


49 


the darkness, seemingly at great risk of being 
tangled in the undergrowth. 

After each stroke he remained motionless a 
few seconds, listening for sounds of his ene- 
mies, and, hearing none, dipped the blade deep 
and impelled the light boat forward again. 

“ I reckon that that ar varmint will growl 
when he comes back to whar he left the canoe, 
and don’t find it thar. He’ll know that it 
warn’t the stream that took it, ’cause it was 
pulled up too high for all that. He’ll think 
that the chick was playin’ possum, and woke 
up jest in time to slide out, and he’ll he mad 
’cause he didn’t skulp the little feller, so he 
couldn’t sarve him the trick; and mebhe he 
did skulp him.” 

And under the impulse of the strange 
thought he stopped paddling, leaned over, and 
carefully examined his little friend. 

Thank heaven ! he was safe and unharmed, 
unconscious of the changes of ownership he 
had undergone during the last hour. 

The trapper kept the canoe speeding along 
in this swift way until he passed a considerable 
distance below where he had kindled his own 

camp-fire. 

4 


50 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


He was now without the range of operations, 
as it may be expressed, having passed some 
distance beyond the circle of the events of the 
night, and being fully two hundred yards from 
the Sioux camp-fire. 

Here he landed, lifted the still sleeping Dick 
out of the boat, and carried the latter some 
fifty feet away from the stream, so as to pre- 
vent its being found, when the hostiles should 
come to search up and down the creek for it by 
moonlight. 

Not content with this, he called into use his 
enormous strength, and easily wrenched it 
apart in such a fashion that when it should 
be found by daylight it was sure to be useless. 

Black Sam, by his remarkable woodcraft, 
had gained elbow-room. The locality in which 
he had eaten his supper was so dangerous that 
he must get out of it as speedily as possilbe. 

All that remained for him to do was to get 
his horses. Could he succeed in doing so? 

He was sure of his own, but whether Dick 
Stoddard's pony knew enough to obey the sig- 
nal was another question. He had not yet 
given any warning of the presence of the In- 
dians, the stamping in both the cases referred 


THE LAND OF THE SIOUX. 


51 


to having come from Screamer, as he some- 
times called his horse. 

The trapper uttered the signal already men- 
tioned, and it was not long before he detected 
the approach of the sagacious animal, he ad- 
vancing to meet him. 

But as they encountered in the moonlight, 
he was not a little surprised to find it was 
Dick’s pony. 

‘‘How’s that?” he exclaimed. “I see how 
’tis now.” 

Directly behind the pony came Screamer. 

Eecognizing the call of his master, he knew 
that both equines were needed. So he went 
after the other, and sent him before him. 

“ That’s what I call shience ! ” exclaimed the 
pleased trapper; “thar ain’t many folks be- 
sides your master that have got more brains 
than you.” 

As Dick showed no evidence of waking, the 
trapper took him in his arms, mounted his own 
steed, and started forward, the pony following 
obediently behind him. 

Sam still headed northward, and in the 
course of a half-hour emerged from the under- 
growth in which he had been manoeuvring 


52 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


with such marked success, and came out upon 
the open, rolling prairie again. 

The route which he followed was the old one 
over which he had traversed so many times, in 
going to and returning from the beaver runs, 
so that with the favoring moonlight there was 
scarcely a probability of his going astray. 

He paused several times, looked back and 
listened, and when he had gone a couple of 
miles, dismounted and applied his ear to the 
ground. 

This failing to apprise him of anything dan- 
gerous, he concluded there was no further oc^ 
casion for alarm, and he drew Screamer down 
to a walk and gave over all thought of disturb- 
ance from those in the rear. 

'‘They’ll bang up and down that ’ere little 
creek till daylight afore they’ll stumble over 
the canoe. When they find that, they’ll begin 
to see how the thing was done, and then, as I 
remarked awhile ago, thar’ll be a s’prise party. 
Wall, Screamer, me and you have got a few 
miles to travel afore we reach the Yallerstun, 
and I’m of the opinion that it ain’t the best 
thing in the world to tire ourselves to death at 
the start, so we’ll go inter camp as soon as we 


THE LAND OF THE SIOUX. 


53 


strike t’other grove, which ain’t more nor a 
mile ahead.” 

The intelligent horse seemed to comprehend 
the words, for, with a faint whinny, he in- 
stantly broke into a canter, the pony trotting 
like a colt at his heels. 

Up and down over the prairie, for a mile 
more, and the steed, without any direction 
from his master, turned in among a grove of 
trees, and Sam instantly leaped to the ground, 
and removing the trappings of both animals, 
turned them loose to graze for themselves, 
there being water and grass in abundance. 

As was to be supposed, the trapper did not 
start a fire, but wrapped Dick up warmly, so 
that nothing but his nose reached the fresh 
air, and with their blankets covering even 
their feet, there was little danger of their suf- 
fering, were the temperature to descend still 
forty degrees lower. 

It was now about freezing, and, as the 
grove was without a particle of undergrowth, 
and stood upon elevated ground, the wind had 
a clean sweep over and through it. 

It will be readily understood that this camp- 
ing site was inferior to the one vacated, so 


54 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


much SO, that nothing but necessity led the 
trapper to adopt it. 

“ The sleepishness of boys is somethin’ extron* 
nery,” muttered Sam, muffled up in his blanket. 
“It’s like thar appetite; when it comes into 
’im thar’s no use of try in’ to hold up; it’s 
bond to get thar in spite of all you can 
do.” 

Within less than five minutes of the time 
from which these words were uttered, the trap- 
per was sound asleep. 

The difference between his slumber and that 
of the boy was that a watchfulness seemed to 
hover about the man’s, so that while it was 
none the less refreshing, yet it was singularly 
susceptible to outside disturbance. A noise 
that a person in the possession of his senses 
would scarcely notice, would rouse him as 
quickly as if a bombshell had burst in the air 
over his head. 

How the Sioux at the ridge worried through 
the night, after the discouraging trick which 
the trapper played upon them, was more than 
he learned. 

He had been mixed up in so many affairs of 
that kind that it gave him far less thought 


THE LAND OP THE SIOUX. 


55 


after it was over than it would have caused 
one unaccustomed to frontier life. 

But the two horses cropped their grass until 
they were tired, and then went to sleep, and 
nothing occurred during the remaining hours 
of night to disturb the slumber of man or 
beast. 

Black Sam had not brought any of the 
buffalo meat with him, so that it was neces- 
sary to ride on farther in order to get their 
breakfast. 

Like all such characters, the trapper was in- 
clined at times to waggery and jokes, and he 
enjoyed far more than his breakfast the sur- 
prise and bewilderment of Dick Stoddard, who 
had gone to sleep at the base of the ridge and 
awaked in a grove of trees miles away. 

When the lad was perfectly nonplussed, and 
unable to understand how it all came about, 
his friend told him the remarkable experience 
that had befallen him during his sleeping 
hours, and then, as may be supposed, his 
amazement was greater than ever. 

The reflection that he had been in the actual 
possession of a wild Sioux Indian could not 
but make him shudder, and cause him to re- 


56 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


solve that the next time he undertook to keep 
awake he would do so. 

“Sam, why can’t we sleep all day and travel 
all night?” he asked, after revolving the per- 
plexing subject in his mind. 

“ ’Cause that wouldn’t be a bit better than 
to do as nature intended. Couldn’t the var- 
mints foller us just as well, and a blamed 
sight better, by daylight than by night? All 
we’ve got to do is to look out for them.” 

“Well, I s’pose so; but it’s awful hard 
work for me to keep awake when I’m sleepy.” 

“So it is for a man. But you’ll get it after 
a while. Now we must hunt for breakfast. 
Come on !” 

The next minute they were in the saddle 
and galloping to the northward over rolling 
prairie, interspersed at intervals with timber, 
ridges, and hills, while game appeared every- 
where in abundance. 

“ What are we going to have for breakfast, 
Sam? Will it be buffalo or fish?” 

“Neither,” was the reply; “it’s a good thing 
to change your diet now and then.” 

“What is it going to be?” pursued the boy. 

The trapper turned his head and smiled 


THE LAND OP THE SIOUX. 


57 


kindly, uttering nothing, but saying, by his 
manner, that the questioner had nothing to do 
but to contain himself in patience for a while 
and he would be satisfied. 

If the brisk morning ride were intended as 
an appetizer, it accomplished its work most 
effectually. 

There was scarcely need of it, for both were 
sure to be ready for their meals before the lat- 
ter were ready for them. 

Dick had not ridden far before he felt he 
was never so hungry in all his life, but he re- 
frained from saying anything, through fear 
that the hunter would not think him manly. 

Sam had no wish to try him too much, but 
he was searching for a particular kind of 
game, which, not being as abundant as buffalo, 
compelled a longer hunt. 

He was looking sharp, however, and was 
confident of speedy success. 

Finally, when Dick began to feel impatient 
at the continued delay, they drew their horses 
in at the base of quite a hill, and the trapper 
said : 

“WeTl climb off here, and be careful ’bout 
gettin’ to the top of the hill, for I think the 


58 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


game is over thar, and if he is, he’s mighty 
skeery. S’pose you wait till everything is 
ready?” 

There could be no objection to this, and Dick 
Stoddard contented himself with standing by 
J ack and watching the motions of the hunter, 
as he cautiously made his way to the top of 
the hill. 

Just before attaining this point, he sank 
down upon his face, so that when he did peer 
over only his head and shoulders could be 
seen from the other side. 

Several minutes, that seemed very long to 
the boy, were spent by the trapper in this scru- 
tiny, then he turned to Dick and motioned for 
him to join him, signifying also that it should 
be done in the same careful manner he had 
used. 

Dick Stoddard lost no time in obeying, for 
he was hungry, and also curious to know what 
it meant. 

“Be careful and don’t get your head above,” 
said the hunter, “for we’re in an unlucky 
place.” 

From the manner and words of Sam, the 
boy expected to see a whole war-party of In- 


THE LAND OF THE SIOUX. 


59 


dians within a short distance, and creeping to 
the crest, he gazed over with a good deal of 
fear; but his astonishment was unbounded 
when, instead of redskins, he saw only three 
timid-looking animals grazing near upon a 
portion of the prairie where the grass was 
longer than he had noticed heretofore. 

‘‘What are you scared at?” asked Dick, 
when he had stared around for several min- 
utes without discovering anything that could 
justify in his eyes the alarm of the hunter. 

“Them critters thar.” 

“What are they?” 

“Antelopes.” 

“Will they hurt us?” 

“Hurt us? Not much, I reckon, but we 
want to hurt ’em.” 

“ Is it an antelope breakfast that you mean 
to get?” 

“That’s it, if we can.” 

“Why don’t you do it, then? What’s to 
hinder you shooting them?” 

“ They’re too far off, and how kin they be 
reached?” 

“Sneak through the grass toward them, 
can’t you? They’re so far off that they won’t 


60 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


notice you going down the hill, an’ then the 
grass is so tall that you can creep through it 
without their seeing you.” 

‘‘You couldn’t do it, from this way. Afore 
you could climb over the ridge they’d be off, 
whether they seed you or not.” 

Having aroused the curiosity of the boy. 
Black Sam then explained that the antelopes 
before them were probably the most timid and 
inquisitive animals found in the West, but that 
their sense of smell is wonderfully acute, en- 
abling them, when the wind is favorable, to 
detect the approach of a foe before he is fairly 
in sight. 

It so happened, in the present instance, that 
the wind was blowing directly from the hill 
toward the flat upon which the animals were 
grazing, and Sam knew that if he should place 
himself upon the highest point, these extraor- 
dinary creatures would take the alarm on the 
instant. 

Hence the great care he displayed in reach- 
ing his post of observation, and in holding it 
afterward. 

“Now, if you’ll stay here,” he said, “and 
promise me that you won’t let anything more 







Lying flat on the ground^ waving his caj> from the end of his ramrodfl — {,Page 62, 


THE LAND OF THE SIOUX. 


61 


than your head get above the hill, I’ll try and 
bring down one of them critters for breakfast, 
and they carry the kind of meat that’s good, 
too.” 

Dick, of course, promised, and, as the morn- 
ing was getting well along, the trapper set off 
without any more delay. • • 

As he was now directly to the windward of 
the antelopes, his first proceeding was to change 
their relative position. 

This was done by moving around to the 
right, the swell of the prairie affording him 
all the protection, until he had passed some 
forty degrees, when it sloped off like the rest 
of the plain, and was no longer available. 

By this time, however, Sam had reached a 
point where he believed he could afford to take 
the risk, and Dick saw him begin moving tow- 
ard the antelopes in the same stealthy fashion 
that he used in entering a camp of hostile 
Indians. 

He was bent forward in a stooping position, 
so that his knees almost touched his chin as he 
walked, while he held his long rifle in his hand, 
ready to be used at an instant’s notice. 

The antelopes continued grazing, as though 


62 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


unsuspicious of danger, and the hunter ad- 
vanced until he had reached a point within a 
couple of hundred yards, perhaps, by which 
time he was among a denser growth of grass. 

Here he paused, lay flat upon the ground, 
and the next thing that excited the amazement 
of Dick Stoddard was the sight of the trapper, 
while lying prone in this way, waving his cap 
from the end of his ramrod. 

He swayed it slowly back and forth, just as 
if it were intended as a signal to some one, as, 
indeed, it may be said it was, and it almost 
instantly attracted the notice of the three ante- 
lopes. 

Almost at the same moment all threw up 
their heads, stared for a second at the curious 
object, and then turned and ran in the opposite 
direction, with the speed, it may be said, of the 
wind. 

“There goes our breakfast, ” exclaimed the 
disappointed Dick. “I would a great deal 
rather that he would shoot some of the buffa- 
loes we have seen than wait this way. Helloa ! 
what’s the matter now?” 

The antelopes, which had started at such 
high speed, ran but a little way, when they 


THE LAMD OF THE SIOUX. 


63 


came to an abrupt halt, turned about, and 
stood staring at the cap and ramrod, that had 
steadily continued their swaying back and 
forth from the first. 

They were actuated by that remarkable curi> 
osity for which they are noted. 

The trapper did not attempt to approach 
them, but contented himself simply with sig- 
nalling in the manner described. 

The antelopes remained standing but a min- 
ute or two when they turned and trotted off, 
going a much shorter distance than before. 
This time, instead of standing stationary, they 
walked timidly toward the object which so tan- 
talized their curiosity. 

They did so very slowly, step by step, fre- 
quently halting, as if their minds were not 
clear as to the wisdom of their course. 

The interest finally centred in the largest of 
the three, his whole series of actions being 
more ‘^advanced” than the others. 

He ran faster, halted sooner, and was the 
first to take the alarm, and the first to recover 
and try it again. 

Finally the group halted, something over a 
hundred yards distant, and while two stood 


64 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


motionless, the third began again his timid ad- 
vance toward the curious -looking signal. 

Back and forth it oscillated, like a pendu- 
lum, and with scarcely less regularity, for had 
its speed increased or diminished, the alarm of 
the antelopes would have overcome their curi- 
osity and they would have sped away beyond 
recall. 

When the larger fellow had picked his way 
for a short distance, the others made no at- 
tempt to follow, seeming to be content to allow 
him to solve the mystery. 

This pioneer made himself interesting from 
the extreme caution he used. 

He raised his feet very high, sometimes 
holding one uplifted for several seconds, as 
though he were a dog that had pointed some 
game. 

Then again, with all four of his feet planted 
firmly on the ground, and his head thrown 
fi^^h, he stared at the thing with such rigidity 
that he resembled many of the stuffed speci- 
mens of himself seen in our museums. 

At times his prudence seemed to get the 
mastery, and wheeling around, he trotted 
almost back to where his companions stood. 


THE LAND OF THE SIOUX. 


65 


when the sight of them seemed to make him 
ashamed of his timidity, and veering about 
again he went still farther than before in the 
direction of the swaying cap. 

Nearer and nearer, while the trapper, 
stretched out upon his face, carefully noted the 
lessening distances, contented to wait, for well 
he knew the fish, sooner or later, must come 
to his net. 

Dick Stoddard comprehended now the little 
drama that was going on before his eyes, and 
he could not but feel the greatest interest in 
the result, knowing not the certainty of Sam 
as to what the issue would be, as he knew 
nothing of the antelope and its habits. 

‘‘There it goes again!” he exclaimed, his 
hopes down to zero as the animal made 
another backward bound, and trotted off 
toward his companions. “ Sam ought to have 
let me go ’round on t’other side of them, so 
one of us would be sure of shooting some- 
thing.” 

But again the creature halted (Dick could 
not guess the number of times), and in his 
timid, hesitating manner, approached still 

nearer the dangerous point. 

5 


66 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


“I don’t see why he don’t fire,” said the im- 
patient boy; ‘'bime-by that antelope will see 

what he is, and then he’ll be off like a shot ” 

Down dropped the liberty-cap, up came the 
rifle; there was a flash of fire from the grass, 
and the dull report had scarcely reached the 
ears of Dick Stoddard when the animal bounded 
in mid-air, ran a few yards, and fell dead. 


CHAPTEE IV. 


A WONDERFUL REGION. 

Dick Stoddard, stretched out on top of the 
prairie swell, could scarcely restrain a cheer 
when he saw the antelope fall to the earth, 
pierced to the heart by the bullet of Black 
Sam. 

The trapper had manoeuvred with the signal 
long enough for the boy to understand and en- 
ter fully into the scene, and the result was 
almost as much a triumph for one as the other. 

The lad was on the point of jumping up and 
flinging his hat in air, when he was thrown 
into a fever of excitement by observing that 
the two antelopes, in their excess of terror, 
were coming at full speed directly toward him. 

‘"Maybe ITl get a shot,” was the thought 
that came to him, as he raised the hammer of 
his rifle and held himself in readiness to take 
advantage of his promised good fortune. 

“I wonder if they’ll hurt a feller?” was bis 

e? 


68 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


next and more troublous thought. “I wish 
there wasn’t two of ’em, for I can’t shoot 
more than one, and if the other goes for me I 
don’t know what I’ll go for. There ain’t any 
use of jumping on either of the horses, for the 
antelope is quicker than they, and the one I 
didn’t kill would be sure to jump on right after 
me.” 

But the boy was resolved to stand, or rather 
lie, where he was, and do his best, hoping that 
if he got in any serious difiQculty the trapper 
would reach him in time to save him. 

The antelopes, generally so cautious about 
running into danger, seemed to have lost their 
heads, and came bounding forward with won- 
derful speed, straight up the hill upon which 
the boy lay, with his gun pointed over the 
crest at them. 

They were side by side, scarcely ten feet 
apart, and one of them looked as if he meant 
to step upon the waiting lad, who made sure 
that he kept him covered with his weapon. 

Afraid to fire, while even at a moderate dis- 
tance, through fear of missing, Dick held his 
charge until the panic - stricken brute was 
within twenty feet of where he lay, when, as 


A WONDERFUL REGION. 


69 


the muzzle was pointed directly at its chest, he 
pulled trigger. 

The distance was too short to miss, and the 
bullet ploughed its way through the heart, and 
almost the entire length, of the antelope, 
whose species scarcely ever die as instantly as 
do many others. 

Instead of dropping in its tracks, it made a 
couple of bounds more furious than any, the 
last carrying it high in air, and completely over 
the head of Dick, who, looking wonderingly 
upward, saw the animal, as it seemed to him 
a dozen yards above him, its legs gathered 
under it, as it went flying forward like some 
curious bird. 

Following its incredible parabola, the boy 
observed the animal curve over him, and strik- 
ing the ground some distance below, struggle 
to its feet again, make another weak bound, 
and then fall in the struggles of death, killed 
by his bullet. 

The third and only surviving antelope made 
a sharp turn when on the very top of the hill, 
and sped off with a velocity that speedily car- 
ried him beyond all danger from man or boy. 

‘‘Now, I guess I can afford to hurrah!” he 


70 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


shouted, throwing up his hat. “There ain’t 
many boys that can shoot an antelope, and kill 
him at the first fire.” 

Black Sam, as soon as he had brought down 
his animal, ran forward with his knife for the 
purpose of securing that which they needed for 
breakfast. 

As he had done all he expected or wanted to 
do, he paid no further attention to the others, 
until he heard the sound of the rifle from the 
hill which he had left. He looked up with 
some fear, thinking that the shot had come 
from an Indian. 

“Wall, by gracious!” he exclaimed. “If 
Dick hain’t banged away at one of them crit- 
ters, and, as I don’t see but one of ’em gallop- 
in’ down hill, I shouldn’t wonder if he’d 
dropped his.” 

Hastily carving out the piece he needed, he 
took it in hand and ran in the direction of 
the hill to learn the success of his young 
friend. 

Most of his doubts were removed by seeing 
the fellow flinging his hat in air, and leaping 
and shouting. 

“He wouldn’t be doin’ that if he had made 


A WONDERFUL REGION. 71 

a miss of it,” was the conclusion of the trap- 
per, who, a few minutes after, as he came 
around by the hill, saw the trophy lying on the 
ground at the feet of the conqueror. 

Sam could not but sympathize with the de- 
light of the boy over his exploit, and he shook 
him by the hand, and congratulated him, as 
the lad really deserved. 

“The next thing will be a bufiler, and arter 
that, what?” 

“A grizzly bear!” 

Sam laughed at the vaulting ambition of the 
lad in the way of hunting. 

“You mustn’t want to grow too fast,” said 
he, patting him on the head ; “ a boy can’t turn 
a somersault and drop down a big hunter. 
He’s got to grow up to it; but we’ll talk ’bout 
that some other time. Just now, you and me 
are hungry, and we want breakfast. Off yon- 
der, we’ll find enough of wood to start a camp- 
fire, and let’s make things dance.” 

“But ain’t you going to eat any of my 
game?” asked the boy. 

“Sartinly, sartinly; I mean to cook this 
hunk to take ’long with us, so we needn’t stop 
every time we want a bite. Then we’ll cook 


72 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


’nough of yours to give us all we want to eat 
this mornin’.” 

This arrangement was followed out to the 
letter. 

It required but a few minutes to start the 
fire, and by the time it was fairly under way, 
the tender, juicy antelope steaks were crisping 
and broiling in the blaze. 

Seasoned to suit the palate, they ^ere taken 
while scorching-hot, and as the jaws masticated 
the luscious food, no better way of satisfying 
one’s hunger can be imagined. 

Amateur hunters will understand that there 
was a peculiar relish about the meal to young 
Dick Stoddard, who called the attention of the 
trapper over a score of times to the fact that 
it was he who had furnished the steaks to both. 

The boy was no more pleased than was 
Sam, who complimented him again, and as- 
sured him that he had really done something 
which he could boast of, when he went back 
home. 

Sam took pains to praise not so much the 
shot itself as the coolness displayed. The dis- 
tance was so short that the aim was nothing 
wonderful, but nine boys out of ten would have 


A WONDERFUL REGION. 


73 


fired too soon, thereby not only missing the 
game, but scaring it off beyond recovery. 

Our readers may be sure that Dick made no 
mention of the fright that came over him when 
he first saw the antelope bearing down, or 
rather up, toward him. He thought it hardly 
worth while to do that. 

As the flesh was of the finest quality. Black 
Sam spent an hour in cooking slices, which 
were carefully folded in a lot of green leaves, 
and then laid away in a sack that he always 
carried for that purpose. Thus provided, he 
was now able to ride forward three or four 
days without starting a fire with which to pre- 
pare his meals. 

From this point, the direction pursued for 
several days was more to the west than here- 
tofore. Although following a route familiar 
to the trapper, yet Dick Stoddard could not see 
anything resembling a trail, and it seemed to 
him as if they were entering a wilderness as 
unknown to his companion as to himself. 

There was a noticeable change in the temper- 
ature over that of the first days, it remaining 
almost at the freezing point. Sam was quite 
concerned lest it should prove too severe for the 


74 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


boy, whose cheeks became as red as apples, and 
whose naked hands grew numb at times in 
holding the reins. He showed him how he 
might put his hands in his pockets, and let the 
lines lie loose, while the thick blanket was 
turned into a shawl, so skilfully secured that 
he was as comfortable as could be wished. 

The surface also underwent a marked 
change. 

Instead of being of the rolling prairie order, 
it lost that distinctive character as they ap- 
proached the Black Hills, and was cut up with 
greater elevations and depressions than any 
they had met. There was more timber, and it 
became apparent that, so long as this sort of 
travelling continued, their progress must be 
considerably slower than heretofore. 

Black Sam turned somewhat off his regular 
course, for the purpose of riding to the top of 
an elevation which offered a chance for an ex- 
tended view of the country they were entering. 

It was a laborious task for the horses to reach 
the top, and when it was attained they were 
given a full hour’s rest, spent mostly by the two 
surveying the expanse of mountain, prairie, 
stream, and woodland spread out before them. 


A WONDERFUL REGION. 


75 


The trapper was unable to detect anything 
that could cause concern. Some two miles to 
the westward, on an elevation less than their 
own, the smoke of a camp-fire was seen, but at 
that distance nothing could be discerned of 
those grouped around it. 

In this section there could he no doubt that 
all such signs indicated the presence of hostile 
Indians, hut the trapper feared no disturbance 
from them, as they were off the line of his 
route, and could know nothing of his where- 
abouts. 

His own winding path, which he discerned 
opening out for miles before him, so far as his 
experienced vision was capable of judging, was 
clear of all obstructions. 

When the horses were sufficiently rested, 
they were led down the steep declivity, and the 
two mounted and were off again. 

The progress during the day was varied 
enough to keep Dick Stoddard’s interest to the 
highest point. When the afternoon was about 
half gone, a swift mountain -stream was 
reached, where it looked as if all travelling in 
that direction must end. 

It was a hundred feet wide, very deep, and 


76 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


SO rapid, that it seemed that the strongest 
swimmer must be helpless when once caught 
within it. 

The two reined up and allowed their animals 
to drink from it, while the boy contemplated it 
with dismay. 

“I declare, Sam,” said he, ‘‘I don’t see how 
we can go across there. We can’t swim it, 
can we?” 

He shook his head. 

“ Man nor boss couldn’t make any headway 
agin that, and thar ain’t many bridges in this 
part of the world.” 

“ I s’pose there must be some place where the 
horses can walk over?” 

“Thar ain’t no such place that I could ever 
find, and yet I’ve crossed this ere river, as you 
may call it, fifty times.” 

“On a raft it must have been.” 

“Nothin’ of the kind — never floated over in 
my life. Now how do you s’pose I done it?” 

“I give it up; I can’t think of any way at 
all, Sam.” 

“Well, ride ’long with me, and I’ll show 
you.” 

“ Oh ! I know,” called out the lad, in no little 


A WONDERFUL REGION. 


77 


excitement; “there’s some narrow place where 
Screamer jumped over.” 

The trapper laughed at the ingenuity of the 
lad. 

“A purty good idea, Dick, purty good; hut 
you’re wrong agin. This ar stream is forty 
yards wide at the narrowest part. My boss 
and I have crossed without jumpin’ over — that 
you can know for yourself — swimmin’ or ridin’ 
in a boat or on a raft, or on a bridge, or goin’ 
round it, and a boy that can shoot an antelope 
for breakfast orter be able to guess the 
riddle.” 

“I hope you ain’t joking, Sam.” 

“I’m tollin’ you the solemn truth, Dick, and 
I’ll prove it to you. Inside of twenty minutes 
you’ll be on t’other side the stream too.” 

“ Will you be with me?” 

“Sartinly; me and Screamer are goin’ to 
show you how the thing is done.” 

“Well, I couldn’t guess if I took a month.” 

Black Sam was not a little pleased to find that 
he had his young friend so puzzled, and he let 
his horse walk at his own gait, apparently in 
no hurry to enlighten him. 

When they had ridden a short distance a 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


roaring sound was heard, which rapidly in 
creased as they advanced. 

The trapper explained that this noise was 
caused by the stream rushing through some 
falls or rapids a short distance above, and a 
few minutes later they came in sight of 
them. 

The current was twice as wide as where they 
first saw it, and was forced to fight its way 
down a steep declivity, and around a hundred 
rocks of varying size. 

Some of these projected above the water, 
while others came within a few inches of the 
surface. 

But they were all obstructions which served 
to dash the waters into foam and numerous 
whirlpools, that must have been capable of de- 
stroying any kind of craft that attempted to 
shoot them. 

‘‘Are you going to try to get over here?” 
asked Dick, frightened at the prospect. 

“ I rather guess not. But we’re purty near 
the spot.” 

Turning his horse to the right, with the boy 
following him, they were soon out of sight of 
the falls, and although they changed to the 


A WONDERFUL REGION. 


79 


left again, they failed to catch sight of the 
stream. 

Dick noticed that they were descending into 
a sort of ravine, the rocks being abundant, and 
the vegetation of the most scraggy and moun- 
tainous character. 

It was not long before, at the bottom of the 
ravine, he found they were passing under an 
arch, bearing resemblance to the remarkable 
curiosity known as the Natural Bridge of Vir- 
ginia. 

A small stream ran beneath, but it scarcely 
more than wetted the hoofs of their horses’ feet. 

The boy made his neck ache from gazing up- 
ward at the jagged, rocky spar far above their 
heads, which recalled, at the first glance, the 
structure referred to. 

Have you ever heard of the Natural Bridge 
of Virginia, Sam?” he asked. 

‘‘Yes, I b’lieve I’ve heard folks speak of it 
down in Omaha and St. Louey.” 

“ Well, I’ve never seen it, but I’ve read about 
it, and I think this is a more wonderful thing 
than that. Why don’t travellers tell ’bout 
this, and have pictures of it in the school-books, 
like the Natural Bridge?” 


80 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


“ ’Cause the travellers haven’t sot eyes onto 
it yet. When they do, I s’pose they’ll go back 
and let everybody in the world hear tell of it. 
There is a good many things out in this part 
of the world that they don’t know nothin’ 
about on t’other side the Mississippi. Thar’s 
greater curiosities among the Black Hills and 
Rocky Mountains than you ever dreamed ’bout, 
and which are only knowed just now to the 
wild Injuns, and a few hunters and trappers 
like myself. Thar’s falls ten times as high as 
Niagara, and canons so deep you can’t see the 
bottom, and trees so tall that a feller gets tired 
out afore he can walk around— and he has to 
look twice afore he can see over the top — rocks 
so big that, if they should fall over, they’d 
break a hole through the earth, while the 
mountains are so high that the moon has to 
turn out for ’em when she sails through the 
stars, and as for the perairies ” 

“There!” interrupted Dick. “That will do, 
Sam. You’re telling me a little too big stories. 
When are we going to cross that river?” 

“We’re fifty yards more than across this 
very minute,” was the astonishing answer. 

“I don’t see how that is,” said the boy, be- 


A WONDERFUL REGION. 


81 


lieving this to be another specimen of the 
hunter’s waggery. 

For the last five minutes the two horsemen 
had been steadily rising, and as proof of the 
truth of what Sam had just stated, he pointed 
backward and a little to the left. 

Following this direction, Dick saw behind 
them the dashing falls that had attracted his 
wonder a short time before, the roaring sound 
at the same moment striking upon his ears 
with redoubled force. 

He understood how it all came about with- 
out any further explanation. 

They had passed beneath the river, by a tun- 
nel which nature herself had furnished. 

It was a wonderful formation indeed, but 
they were in a land of wonders, liable at any 
time to come upon more remarkable curiosities 
than that which they had just seen. 

They had scarcely got beyond sound of the 
falls, when the boy was struck with the char- 
acter of the path which they were following, 
so different from anything they had experi- 
enced before. 

They were traversing what might be called 

a dry canon, through which, at some remote 
6 


82 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


day, a river forced its way with such prodig- 
ious power that the rocky sides, in many places, 
had been worn, by the friction of the heavy 
stones it carried, as smooth as marble. 

The rocks towered on both sides to heights 
varying from fifty to five hundred feet, the 
rays of the sun being so shut out that in many 
places an eternal twilight held reign. 

The air was cold, and now and then they 
encountered a draught, blowing with so much 
power in their faces that Dick feared he would 
be carried off J ack, who frequently stopped as if 
to gather strength to force his way against it. 

Then again all was as still as the tomb, and 
the sound of their horses’ hoofs upon the flinty 
earth echoed along the sides of the canon in a 
way that caused the boy frequently to turn his 
head, under the impression that strangers were 
approaching. The width of this natural path 
was of the same varying character as the 
height, the sides now and then sloping upward 
and away, but they were generally perpendic- 
ular, and even more than that. 

There were two occasions during this after- 
noon’s ride when the towering rocks were so 
nearly joined that it became absolutely dark 


A WONDERFUL REGION. 


83 


below, and a shuddering fear crept over Dick, 
making him anxious to hurry forward where 
the air did not seem so heavy, and it was pos- 
sible to obtain more sunlight. 

“What a good place this would be for a 
river !” said he, in an awed voice, as he came 
out of one of these dark, tunnel-like passages. 
“ I wonder if there has ever been one here !” 

“Yes, sir,” was the emphatic response; 
“ thar’s been a young Mississippi squeezed into 
here, and the way it has buzzed through has 
made things hum.” 

“I s’pose it’s been a good many years ago.” 

“ So it has, when it run reg’lar, but thar air 
two or three times every year when it’s chock 
full of water, trees, and rocks, that go tearin’ 
down like a drove of bu filers with the perairie 
on fire, and scorchin’ thar tails behind ’em.” 

“ Hark ! I hear the water coming now !” ex- 
claimed Dick, turning his white face, so as to 
look behind him. 

But Black Sam laughed at his fears. 

“ That was the falls ; a twist of the wind hap- 
pened to bring the sound down on to us just 
then. This ain’t the time of year that the 
water fills in this canon.” 


84 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


“When is it?” 

“In the spring, after the snows have begun 
to melt in the mountains and up among the 
head-waters of the rivers, and thar’s so much 
water that it don’t know what to do with it- 
self, and so it goes sloshin’ and sloppin’ over 
everything, and grabbin’ hold of any chance 
it can git to find its way down to whar the 
stream is broad enough to take all that can 
come.” 

“Did you ever see it when it was that way?” 

“I should think I had,” grunted the trapper. 
“ I was fool enough to get cotched inter it once. ” 

And noting the inquiring look of the boy, 
the hunter found himself bound to explain. 

“It war all of fifteen years ago, when Hank 
McCabe and me had finished up our winter’s 
trappin’ and had started humward. We had 
the poorest luck that season I ever knowed 
afore or since, and Hank war so completely 
disgustified that he told me he meant to hire 
out as a boatman on the Ohio, and never go 
West again, and I shudder to think that he 
nearly persuaded me to do the same thing, so 
near do we sometimes come to make a mis- 
take that we can never get over. 


A WONDERFUL REGION. 


85 


“We hadn’t fifty skins atween us, so we 
strapped them onto our ridin’ horses, and left 
the pack animals up among the mountains 
where they could laugh, grow fat, and kick 
up their heels till we came back six months 
after, onless the Injuns should pick ’em up in 
the meanwhile. 

“The weather wasn’t cold at all. I never 
seed it so mild in March as it was when we 
started, which, you know, was earlier than 
usual. The snow was meltin’, and every stream 
we came to was so blamed high that we war 
bothered half to death to git over. It was so 
hard that a good many times we had to slide 
off, and hang on by the horses’ tails, so as 
not to pull ’em down too much ; and more than 
that, it often got so bad that if we hadn’t 
helped jerk ’em out, they’d drowned.” 

“You didn’t have Screamer then, did you?” 

“No; that was afore he was born. You 
might put him inter such a hole, and he’d find 
some way of gettin’ out. Wall, you can under- 
stand from what I’ve told you that water was 
a blamed sight plentier than war needed, 
though natur’ couldn’t have thought we had 
’nough, ’cause for three days and nights the 


86 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


rain poured down without stoppin’, and it was 
as cold as ice, too. 

“Wall, IVe seen pleasanter weather, I 
reckon, than that, and you orter heard McCabe 
growl. He got mad ’nough two or three times 
to cave in my head for persuadin’ him that the 
trappin’ business war delightful. 

“But the rain hadn’t more ’n fairly begun 
to sizzle down, when we happened to strike a 
sort of cave, whar it was as dry as the inside 
of a powder-horn, and lettin’ our animiles run 
loose we turned in thar, with eight or ten 
pounds of pemmican that we’d took ’long with 
us from Fort Leavenworth, and we vowed we 
war goin’ to stay thar till the storm held up, 
even if it war six months, and we had to stay 
a year and starve to death to do it. 

“I’m sure we’d carried out our vow ef it 
hadn’t been that we war routed out the very 
fust night in a way that we despised and 
didn’t count on. 

“ That ’ere cave war in this same canon, and 
down at the bottom, too, and we war a couple 
of fools that we didn’t know better than to 
crawl inter such a hole. 

“ It was the fust night, and we were smok- 


A WONDERFUL REGION. 


87 


in’ our pipes, takin’ things sorter easy and 
sassy-like, when Hank remarked to me that 
the rain made a blasted noise, and I didn’t feel 
like dispootin’ it, when I had to yell my head 
nearly off to make him hear me. The racket 
was so great that we had to screech like mad 
when we spoke, and it warn’t ref reshin’ to take 
our bath straight and steddy likeareg’lar diet. 

‘‘ But bime-hy we made an observation sim- 
ultaneous-like to the effect that the best thing 
we could do just then was to get up and git. 
The waters war cornin’ from somewhar down 
thar in the canon, in a way that was discourag- 
in’ to reflect on, and it come pourin’ inter the 
cave in such a hurry that we come mighty 
nigh breakin’ our necks in our ambition to get 
out afore we war drowned. 

“ Hank came out head fust, and I turned a 
sommerset over him, an away we went down 
the canon, clawin’ at the rocks, grabhin’ at the 
trees, and spittin’ out a hogshead or two of 
water every few minutes. What had come of 
our bosses we didn’t know, ’cause it took all 
our time to try and figure out what war to 
become of us. Ef we’d been out in the middle 
of a big river, it would have been easy jist to 


88 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


paddle along till we got a chance to dig out, 
but you understand that that couldn’t be done, 
cause in the fust place the rocks round us war 
so high that thar was no show, and then it was 
dark as a pile of black cats, and then again the 
stream run so hard that it carried everything, 
even to big rocks, and we war expectin’ every 
minute to get mashed as flat as a flapjack. 

Wall, how we got out of that ’ere scrape 
war more nor I could ever understand. I was 
dead sure that Hank was drowned, and he 
was deader sure that I war wiped out. We 
couldn’t see each other when it was so dark, 
and thar was such a racket that it wasn’t no 
use to yell at each other. 

‘‘It war ’bout an hour when I bumped up 
agin a rock, and found out that I could hold 
on and drag myself out. That’s what I done, 
and laid still till morning, when I found that 
Hank was a-layin’ not more nor twenty feet 
away, bunged and banged up as bad as I was. 

“Both our bosses war never heard of agin, 
and we tramped two days afore we could pick 
up any others. That ended Hank McCabe’s 
trappin’ perfession, ’cause nothin’ could never 
persuade him to try it agin.” 


CHAPTER V. 


A MEMORABLE NIGHT. 

As the afternoon wore away, Black Sam and 
Dick Stoddard were still riding through the 
canon, and the lad could not see any signs of 
reaching the end. 

If anything, the towering, rocky wall rose 
to a greater height as they advanced, and had 
there come a rush of waters, or had Indians 
appeared in front and rear, the two horsemen 
would have been entangled beyond all possi- 
bility of escape. 

But, as the trapper had shown, the former 
danger was not to he thought of, and he gave 
scarcely any more heed to the latter, which is 
present always with any traveller of the North- 
west. 

Answering the almost ceaseless questions of 
the hoy, he assured him that their encampment 
that night would be made in the canon, from 


90 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


which they were not likely to emerge until 
noon of the following day. 

.f He had the halting-place in mind from the 
first, and it was still a number of miles ahead, 
but could be easily reached before dark. 

The way was so rough and uneven that they 
scarcely ever ventured off a walk. 

Dick, as was to be expected in one of his 
years, used his eyes to the utmost, staring up- 
ward at the magnificent rocks towering in 
such mighty masses over his head, until his 
aching neck compelled him to desist. 

The remarkably fine weather of the last week 
and more which had been occupied in their 
journey seemed about to end. 

The air, besides being cold, was filled with a 
penetrating dampness of the most unpleasant 
nature, and the sky was overcast in a way that 
betokened a coming storm. 

Beside this, the rumhle of thunder more than 
once reached their ears, and the gloom of the 
canon was crossed and lit up by streakings of 
lightning. 

But none of these was of a particularly 
threatening character, and Sam, who was well 
read in weather signs, gave it as his opinion 


A MEMORABLE NIGHT. 


91 


that if rain fell during the night it would not 
be very copious, and it was impossible that it 
should cause any rush of water in the canon 
like what he had told his friend about. 

These floods are the result of the enormous 
melting of snow and ice in the spring of the 
year, or of some long-continued descent of rain, 
such as is seen only once in a number of years. 

The little stream which crawled through the 
centre of the canon, twisting by stones, and 
frequently disappearing beneath rocks, was of 
clear, cold water, and was grateful to both 
riders and animals, as they frequently found 
during the afternoon. 

Here and there were deposits of dirt upon 
which the grass grew rankly, while tufts of 
it, together with stunted trees, projected from 
the rocks at varying distances above their 
heads, so that while the vegetation was noth- 
ing like what they had seen elsewhere, yet it 
was sufficient to satisfy their animals on a 
pinch. 

At last, when the shadows of night were 
gathering about them, the trapper drew the 
rein of his horse, and, jumping to the ground, 
turned round toward his young friend. 


92 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


‘‘Well, Dick, here we are, and here I reckon 
we 11 stay till the sun comes up again. How 
do you like it?” 

“It looks well enough,” replied the lad, gaz- 
ing about him and taking in all the points pos- 
sible. 

They had halted in one of the broadest por^ 
tions of the ravine, the walls being several 
hundred feet apart, and of great height. On 
the right was a projecting ledge of rock, a 
dozen feet over their heads, whose dimensions 
were such that it acted like an immense um- 
brella, capable of protecting fifty men with 
their animals against the fury of any storm. 

Charred and half-burned embers scattered 
around showed that the remarkable advan- 
tages of this spot as a camping-site had struck 
more than one party in passing through ; and, 
as the remains of trees, limbs, and drift-woods 
relics of former floods — were scattered every- 
where, it was the work of but a few minutes 
for the two to gather all the fuel needed for 
the night. 

Sam called the attention of Dick to several 
other excellencies of this spot which he was 
not likely to notice. In the first place, the 


A MEMORABLE NIGHT. 


93 


ravine made a sharp curve both beyond and in 
the rear of the place, so that the camping-site 
was invisible either way from any distance. 

Beneath the projecting rock the wall was so 
hollowed out that the camp-fire could he made 
secure against any cold wind that might drive 
up and down the ravine. Of course, no enemy 
on the rocks overhead could reach them, so 
long as they were gathered under the immense 
wing mentioned. 

One of the horses was sent to the turn above, 
and the other to the one below, where it was 
their duty to act as sentinels through the night, 
there being plenty of grass in both cases to 
afford them their fill of food. 

The trapper had followed up the practice, 
adopted with the antelope, of carrying enough 
cooked meat with him to last several days. 

This was convenient, and enabled them to 
make much better progress than would have 
been possible otherwise, and they were also in- 
sured of something like regularity in their 
meals, which was no inconsiderable thing, 
when it is remembered that they were favored 
with prodigious appetites. 

Thus it was that Sam had enough meat to 


94 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


furnish their supper and breakfast, after which 
it would become necessary to lay in another 
supply ; and, as they calculated upon reaching 
the open country before dinner-time, they were 
sure to find abundant opportunities. 

As the fire flamed up, they sat down within 
the radius of its comfortable warmth, and ate 
the choice steaks, that were tender, and none 
the less enjoyable because they had been cooked 
a couple of days. 

Supper finished, the trapper produced his 
pipe as was his custom, and while he puffed 
away, regaled his young friend with accounts 
of his former experience and adventures, while 
the youth listened with rapt attention, until, 
as was the rule, his eyes became heavy and 
drooping, and he sank into slumber. 

When the trapper saw that he was uncon- 
scious, he walked to where his head had 
drooped, stretched him out in an easy position 
upon the blanket, which was also carefully 
folded over him so as to protect him against 
cold. 

The fond mother herself would not have 
wrapped up the loved child with more thought- 
ful affection than did the hardy trapper, who 


A MEMORABLE NIGHT. 


95 


looked at him repeatedly to make sure he 
needed no more attention. 

This done, Black Sam sat an hour or so 
longer smoking his pipe, listening to the mut- 
tering thunder, watching the quivering, flam- 
ing lightning, which was not violent, and then 
he sat gazing into the embers of the smoulder- 
ing camp-fire. 

What strange fancies were running through 
his head it would be hard to conjecture ; but 
there is no man without a past, and there must 
have been something saddening in the memo- 
ries that crowded upon him, for he sighed, and 
finally throwing his pipe aside, walked out into 
the open air, and stood a long time looking out 
in the gloom, as though the lightning and 
thunder were fit companions to his thoughts. 

But these spells never continued long, and 
he seemed to throw them off after he had sat 
awhile. 

He, too, gathered his blanket about him, and 
“lay down to pleasant dreams.” 

“As near as I can judge,” he muttered to 
himself, “thar ain’t no ’arthly danger, and, as 
I hain’t had much sleep, I’m going to put in a 
squar’ night of it this time.” 


96 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


And he did. 

He needed the rest, and when at last he shut 
his eyes in slumber, they continued closed 
through the hours which were illumined by 
the lightning and made terrible by the thunder. 
As there was nothing in these that was danger- 
ous, it would seem as if the trapper chose not 
to awaken. 

With Dick Stoddard the case was far differ- 
ent, and his experience on that memorable 
night was one which he could not forget if he 
lived a thousand years. 

He slept for something like three hours, 
when a rattling peal of thunder awoke him, 
and he started up and looked around. 

At this moment there was a flash of light- 
ning which showed him the unconscious form 
of the trapper on the other side the camp-fire, 
which had smouldered so low as to afford 
scarcely any light. 

“He must need his sleep,’’ said Dick to him- 
self, ‘‘and so I won’t wake him, though I hate 
to be alone at such a time as this.” 

His blanket had become somewhat disar- 
ranged from his involuntary movements dur- 
ing sleep, and he gathered its thick comfortable 


A MEMORABLE NIGHT. 


97 


folds about him with the purpose of sinking 
into slumber again. 

About this time he noticed a rapid diminution 
in the thunder and lightning, until it may be 
said it had very nearly ceased altogether. 

Another half-hour passed on, and still from 
some unusual cause Dick lay awake, staring 
in a vacant, absent way at the fire, which had 
diminished to a half-dozen embers, that threw 
out a dull, red glare for a short distance 
around. 

He was lying thus staring, and wondering 
why it was that he did not go to sleep, now 
that only the most distant muttering of thun- 
der was heard, when he saw something glisten 
near the fire, which he was sure was not there 
a few minutes before. 

It was only a tiny speck, but it scintillated 
with an intense light, such as a pure diamond 
shows when turned in the rays of the sun. 

The attention of the boy was awakened and 
riveted on the instant, and while he was vainly 
striving to guess what it meant, he became 
aware that it was moving over the ground, 
its position slowly shifting, and approaching 

the spot where he lay. 

7 


98 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


“That’s queer,” he said to himself. “Pve 
never seen anything like that. What can it 
mean?” 

At that instant one of the embers fell apart, 
and a little spiral flame shot up, illuminating 
the immediate darkness with a transient but 
glowing light. 

By this brief aid the boy solved the mystery 
that was perplexing him. 

There was, at that moment, an immense 
rattlesnake gliding by the smouldering camp- 
fire toward the spot where he lay. Its long, 
thick, tapering form seemed covered with 
scales, which glinted and flashed in the firelight 
with hideous beauty. 

As the ember fell apart, the reptile slightly 
rattled its tail, as if to warn all enemies that 
it was ready for them. 

The knowledge that such an immense reptile 
was not only near him, but approaching closer 
every second, paralyzed Dick Stoddard, so that 
he was in the condition of one held in the grasp 
of some nightmare, wherein he sees the ap- 
proach of the most revolting of monsters with- 
out the ability to move hand or foot in the way 
of escape. 


A MEMORABLE NIGHT. 


99 


He could not stir, nor had he the power to 
cry out. Certain that the reptile was coining 
for him, he had no doubt that it was able to 
strike through a double thickness of the blanket 
enfolding him. 

Sam had told him several stories of these rat- 
tlesnakes, many of which grow to an enormous 
size in the Northwest, and they had killed one 
a short time before, so that, aside from the un- 
mistakable warning the serpent itself had 
given, he recognized it the instant the fire- 
light fell upon it. 

It is not usual to see the crotalus abroad so 
late in the season, but it may be that the 
warmth of the camp-fire penetrated its hiding- 
place and drew it forth. At any rate, it was 
there, and it is difficult to imagine a situation 
more frightful than that of both the man and 
boy, the former unconscious of his peril. 

At the same moment that the snake rattled, 
at the falling apart of the embers, it halted, 
slightly raised its head and looked about, as if 
seeking an enemy into which to launch its 
poison. 

None appearing, its anger seemed to abate af- 
ter a few seconds, and its head sank down again. 

: Lof C. 


100 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


The stillness at this time was such that Dick 
again heard the peculiar rasping noise made 
by the sinuous body as it moved over the 
ground. 

He wondered — for he could do nothing else 
but wonder— why it was that the serpent left 
the trapper and came for him. 

The thought occurred to him that perhaps 
he was fonder of boys than of men. 

Several times he tried to cry out, in the hope 
of awaking Sam, who would find some means 
of killing the reptile before he could inflict 
any injury. 

But when he opened his mouth to shout, the 
tongue refused to move, and the only utter- 
ances escaping him were such as are made by 
a strangling person. 

A sort of terror that this would hasten the 
blow of the reptile caused him suddenly to de- 
sist, and he lay huddled up, with the blanket 
covering every part except his white face, shiv- 
ering as if he had the ague, and waiting until 
the snake was ready to doom him to death. 

It is not to be supposed that the serpent had 
come out from his hiding-place, wherever it 
was, on purpose to kill the boy. 


A MEMORABLE NIGHT. 


101 


Snakes don’t do that sort of thing. 

The chilly air no doubt angered it, and it 
was looking around a little before withdraw- 
ing into winter quarters again. 

But Dick Stoddard was sure it had come out 
for no other purpose than to kill him, and he 
had no doubt it would do so. 

His excited mind ran into all sorts of chan- 
nels, and he began to speculate as to where 
the snake was likely to strike him. 

Would it he in the foot, the knee, the arm, 
the hand, or the face? 

Which of these would cause death the soon- 
est? 

Which would he the most painful? How 
would he perish? 

Would he swell up until he hurst? 

Would he become crazy, and die without 
being conscious in his last minutes? 

Would he live a half-hour or a half-day, 
after receiving his wound? 

Was there any remedy for the bite of the 
venomous rattlesnake? 

If Black Sam should awake the second after 
his young friend was struck, would he be able 
to bring forward any remedy? 


102 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


Was it not almost certain that the snake 
would turn and bite him before he could learn 
his danger? and thus the two, it would seem, 
were doomed to fall victims to the single rep- 
tile. 

A hundred thoughts similar to these surged 
through his brain, as he lay crouched and hud- 
dled together, awaiting the moment when his 
master should choose to put him out of his 
misery. 

The tiny flame that had sprung up from the 
breaking apart of one of the embers gradually 
died out again, until the gloom was the same 
as before. 

But, although the body of the snake itself 
was invisible, yet the boy never lost sight of 
the eyes. 

It was one of these that he had discerned at 
first, burning with that intense, vivid lustre. 

But now he saw both, the snake having 
shifted so that they could be seen, gleaming 
like twin stars, as the hideous head continually 
varied its position, now sinking and rising, 
now swaying from right to left, and then 
again stationary. 

It would seem impossible that, in the dark' 


A MEMORABLE NIGHT. 


103 


ness of the night, the reptile should possess the 
power to exercise that strange, subtle spell 
which holds not only the senses of birds cap- 
tive, but enchains equally the powers of man 
himself. 

It is more likely that the excessive fear of 
the boy would have made itself equally mani- 
fest had the danger appeared in the shape of 
some wild beast which is known to be totally 
lacking in that inexplainable gift of nature. 

But Dick Stoddard had tried to speak, and 
the words were inarticulate sounds. 

He had sought to move, but his limbs were 
as if they were dead. 

Never once during these dreadful moments 
did he remove his eyes from those of the rattle- 
snake, which were the same glittering points 
of fire that appeared to burn into, and through 
and through his brain. 

It seemed, during all this time, that the rep- 
tile was advancing, and yet it reached him 
not. 

At times, he was sure it was so close to his 
face that he could feel the heat, and then 
again it receded until it was rods away in the 
breathless darkness. 


104 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


Whether the serpent strove to exert its power 
or not can only be conjectured. 

But, after a time, the charm over the lad 
was complete, and he lay as helpless as if held 
within the arms of Hercules himself. 

The trapper slept on, and was not to awake 
for hours yet — not until daylight should come. 


CHAPTEK VI. 

LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS. 

How long Dick Stoddard lay in the canon, 
by the smouldering camp-fire, a victim to the 
malignant, subtle power of the rattlesnake, he 
never could form any reasonable idea. 

He was in such an abnormal mental con- 
dition that he lost all idea of time, space, and 
even of the world in which he lived, moved, 
and had his being. 

During those awful minutes it was as if 
nature held life and its powers in suspense. 

The subsequent action of the reptile justifies 
the theory that this extraordinary power was 
really exerted without any volition of its own. 

It may be that the boy was in so highly sus- 
ceptible a nervous condition that he was pecul- 
iarly exposed to such a spell. 

In recalling that memorable night, at the 
questioning of his friend Black Sam, he said 

that the first thing like an awakening which 
105 


106 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


he could remember came with the disappear- 
ance of the reptile. 

The two eyes that burned into his very soul 
seemed to recede and increase in size, while 
they assumed a spinning, whirling motion that 
caused them to resemble two fiery wheels, re- 
volving and turning in upon each other with 
bewildering swiftness. 

These revolutions were at the rate of millions 
of times to the minute. 

Suddenly they went out in blank darkness, 
and he felt that he was regaining control of 
himself; he heaved a great sigh, and found he 
could move his limbs, and no doubt he would 
have speedily recovered his entire self-posses- 
sion, had he not at the critical moment dis- 
covered that the snake was nearer to him than 
it had been at any time since he became aware 
of its proximity. 

Attracted by the warmth of the body of the 
boy, it coiled up, and was lying against his 
very body with simply the thickness of the 
blanket separating them. 

A peculiar bedfellow, indeed ! 

Dick could not see the horrid reptile, which 
seemed to have come with the determination 


Life in the wilderness. 107 

to stay, but there was no room for any doubt 
as to its identity, and, curiously enough, the 
poor, terrified boy instantly felt his old utter 
helplessness of horror come back upon him with 
the same irresistible power. 

All that he could do now was to do nothing. 

It seemed as though the serpent was in no 
hurry to destroy him, and he began to feel a 
growing hope that possibly Black Sam might 
soon awake, and be able to afford him relief 
from his awful situation. 

It is useless to dwell upon the torture of the 
boy. 

No one can form any adequate idea of his 
experience who has not had something of the 
same nature himself, and we trust that no such 
affliction may ever be visited upon any of our 
readers. 

While the helplessness of Dick Stoddard was 
the same, yet, relieved of those burning, star- 
light points of light, he was able to note more 
accurately the passage of time, and, with a re- 
lief which no one can understand, he saw by 
the growing light in the canon that the long, 
dreary, dismal night was ending, and day was 
at hand. 


108 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


The snake had just begun to crawl away, 
passing within a few feet of where the boy was 
lying, when one of his legs gave a sudden 
twitch, of such a violent character that it 
amounted to really a kick. The reptile, at this 
moment, was no more than a yard from his 
face, and it instantly stopped, roused and 
angered by such a slight disturbance even as 
that. 

Naturally sluggish in its movements as is 
the crotalus species, yet, as is well known, it is 
capable of lightning-like quickness. In the 
present instance the reptile immediately threw 
itself in coil as a preliminary movement toward 
burying its fangs, surcharged with poison, in 
the cheek of the boy. 

Poor Dick Stoddard was as helpless as ever,, 
and utterly incapable of so much as covering 
his head with the blanket grasped in his trem- 
bling hand. He could only lie still and wait for 
the fatal shooting forward of the hideous head, 
whose disproportionate jaws were distended to 
their fullest extent, as if the serpent would in- 
crease the horror which it had inspired from 
the first. 

The lad saw nothing but the impending blow ; 


LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS. 


109 


and so it will be understood why he failed to 
observe the blanket of Sam, which was lifted 
to one side, just enough to free one arm. At 
the same instant, his brawny hand was thrust 
out, there was a flash, a sharp report, and the 
well-aimed shot from the revolver of the trapper 
shattered the head of the rattlesnake so com- 
pletely that nothing remained, and the long 
sinuous body instantly began doubling and 
writhing in its death-struggles. 

Back and forth the whirling, twisting mass 
plunged, tearing up the dirt and ashes, until 
all at once it shot back in the cavity and lay 
still. 

By this time Dick had recovered his senses, 
and springing to his feet, he saw his friend 
the trapper standing with folded arms, looking 
as if he were amused at what he had just wit- 
nessed. 

“ Wall, Dick, the next time you see one of 
them ’ere critters, you mustn’t wait for me to 
wipe it out, but bang away yerself.” 

The boy heaved a great sigh, and when the 
hunter gazed upon the white face before him, 
he suspected that he had gone through some 
terrible trial, although he was far from com- 


110 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


prehending the whole experience of the last 
few hours. 

“You look as if you had been scared a little,” 
added Sam, in a more kindly voice; “thar’s 
plenty of them kind of birds roostin’ in this 
part of the world.” 

“I never came so near dying in all my life; 
I feel dizzy and sick yet.” 

And then Dick Stoddard proceeded to tell, 
in his own way, as well as he could, the his- 
tory of those dreadful hours which seemed to 
hold the agony of a lifetime. 

Black Sam was able to appreciate and sym- 
pathize with the lad who had undergone so 
much, and he did his utmost to make him 
throw off the gloom that still clung to him. 
He assured him that many a man would have 
gone under if placed in the same position, and 
then, by one of his waggish stories, which he 
knew so well how to tell, he managed to make 
him feel and act something like himself. 

“Wall, Dick, we’ve got ’bout enough fodder 
to stay our stomachs till dinner-time, so let’s 
swaller it and get out of this place, which I 
rather guess you don’t view as the loveliest 
spot that the sun ever shone on.” 


LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS. Ill 

Dick’s appetite speedily rallied, and his com- 
panion was greatly relieved to observe that 
about all the traces of the night’s horror had 
disappeared. 

The horses had improved their time, and 
found enough grass to put them in good con- 
dition for the day’s travel before them. 

Despite the threatening character of the 
weather, not a drop of water had fallen during 
the night in the canon, and, contrary to the 
usual order of nature at such times, there was 
a decided rising of the temperature — so much, 
indeed, that the blankets were found anything 
but comfortable in riding. They were, there- 
fore, laid aside until a change should take 
place in the opposite direction, the trapper as- 
suring his companion that it would not be long 
in coming. 

As Black Sam had predicted, they emerged 
from the canon a little before noon, and found 
themselves once more in a hilly, mountainous 
country, broken by gullies, ravines, gorges, 
and precipices which made one dizzy to look 
down. 

“How much farther, Sam, must we go, 
before we reach the region where you told me 


112 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


you set traps for the beavers?” inquired Dick, 
after they had picked their way along for some 
distance. 

The hunter looked up to the sky and at the 
hills and mountains around, as if he expected 
them to help him answer the question. 

“ Wall, I’ve hunted and trapped all through 
this territory, and made some of the best hauls 
that you ever sot eyes on; but the place is 
purty well cleared out, so that I find it’s best 
to go some fifty miles farther on.” 

“And do you think we’ll make it to-day?” 

“Not onless a lot of Injuns git after us, and 
that’s one of them things that it ain’t safe to 
bet on. Howsomever, I think we’ll make one 
more camp to-night, and then, if nothin’ onex- 
pected don’t happen, we’ll strike it by daylight 
to-morrow.” 

This was welcome information to Dick, who 
had had such a taste of life in this part of the 
world that he was very willing to forego any 
more of it. Besides this, all the excitement of 
new scenes, attended as they were with danger 
of the most thrilling nature, could not keep 
away the terrible homesickness that came upon 
him at all hours of the day and night. 


LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS. 


113 


He loved the rough, scarred, shaggy trapper, 
whose affection for him grew and strength- 
ened, and who, when he saw the sad, weary 
look steal over the boy’s face like a cloud be- 
fore the sun, suspected the cause, and did all 
in his power to win him away from his gloomy 
thoughts. 

Since they had eaten all the game in their 
possession, it became necessary to procure 
more; and as they were in a country abound- 
ing with streams, and as all streams abounded 
with fish, at least in that part of the world, it 
was agreed that they should make a dinner 
upon them, which Sam insisted should be fur- 
nished by Dick Stoddard himself. 

The weather still remained mild and pleas- 
ant, and Dick was glad of the chance to try 
his hand in the way of hauling in a few fish, 
there being a little pride, which was natural 
in one of his years, not to disappoint the ex- 
pectations that the trapper very plainly reposed 
in him. 

It was an easy matter to procure the bait, 
which was nothing but the ordinary angle- 
worm, as it is termed. 

“Now, you’ll find the stream over yonder,” 
8 


114 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


said Sam; about as good a place as you’ll 
want. Fling in thar anywhar, and you won’t 
have to wait long; only be sartin’ and fetch 
enough to give us all we’ll want.” 

Dick started off, hopeful of bringing back 
all that they could possibly need. 

The stream to which the trapper had directed 
him was a small, rapidly running brook, no 
more than a dozen feet in width, quite clear, 
and with a depth so great that he could see 
nothing of the bottom a single yard from shore. 

Dick had learned enough of fishing to know 
that it was useless to throw his line in such a 
rapid current, so he sought out a projection of 
the shore, behind which there was just the sort 
of an eddy that was sure to be a favorite with 
the fish, no matter what their particular nature 
might be. 

The line was scarcely thrown in when there 
was such a vigorous pull that he jerked in at 
once, and, to his delight, he found he had 
hooked a piscatorial prize, weighing at least 
three pounds. 

“We won’t need to catch many like that to 
give Sam and me all we can eat,” he exclaimed, 
as he loosed the hook from the fish’s mouth. 


LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS. 


115 


‘‘I think another as big, or even a little 
smaller, will be plenty. So here goes again,” 
he added, as he flung out the bait once more. 

But the second fish did not come quite so 
readily as the first. 

It may have been that the sudden disappear- 
ance of one of their number was the cause of 
some caution on the part of the companions. 

But Dick was determined to haul in another 
before going back, as Sam had taken pains to 
tell him that he would have abundant time at 
his disposal. 

It was the intention of the trapper to im- 
prove the halt by cleaning their two guns, 
after which he meant to kindle the fire, and, 
as he expressed it, take things easy, as there 
was no reason why they should not do so. 

Assured, therefore, of being alone, Dick sat 
down to his work with the deliberation of a 
veteran who has long since learned that patience 
must have its perfect work in the work of 
catching fish, as well as in the moral world. 

By and by there was a cautious nibble, hut 
it did not amount to enough to induce him to 
draw in the line. 

“I wonder whether Sam has thought there 


116 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


are Indians about here/’ said Dick, giving ex- 
pression to a fear that had been creeping over 
him for the last few minutes. “ He has sent 
me off without my gun, and he’s sat down to 
clean them; suppose a whole lot of Indians 
should come along while he is at that. What 
would he do? I guess he couldn’t do anything 
—hello! there’s another bite, and it’s a big 
one, too! Ah! I’ve got you, old fellow!” 

And so he had ; the great weight tugging 
at his line proving that the fish was larger 
than the former, the danger being that the 
cord was not large and strong enough to hold it. 

But, fortunately, it proved equal to the 
strain, and he succeeded in landing, with con- 
siderable difficulty, as fine a specimen as one 
could see in many a day. 

''There!” he exclaimed, almost as much 
pleased as when he sent the fatal shot into the 
antelope. "There isn’t any more use in fish- 
ing, for all tha4} we catch we’ll have to throw 
away ; so I’ll stop, and go back to where Sam 
is fixing the guns.” 

He was in the act of getting his fish in shape, 
so as to carry them more conveniently, when 
a slight noise cause him to look up, and his 


LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS. 


117 


consternation may be imagined when he saw, 
not more than a dozen feet away, a brawny, 
muscular Indian warrior, painted and armed 
from head to foot. 

Dick had just straightened up, with the 
heavy fish grasped one in each hand, when, 
as he confronted the frightful-looking redskin, 
he dropped both, and simply stared at the sav- 
age in terror. 

The latter could not but know how great 
fear he inspired in an unarmed and helpless foe, 
especially one of such years as the youth that 
stood before him. 

‘‘Me kill,” were the first cheerful words he 
uttered in his broken English, “little white 
papoose — take scalp — shoot — cut head off — kill 
— shoot — gin.” 

This was a terrible threat beyond all ques- 
tion, and, awe-inspiring as it was, it was hard- 
ly capable of adding to the apprehension of 
Dick, who supposed, as a matter of course, the 
redskin would put him to a sudden and shock- 
ing death. 

He stood a minute gazing at him, and then 
he furtively turned his head, to learn whether 
Sam was anywhere in sight. 


118 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


The Sioux — for such he was — observed the 
movement, and understood what it meant. 

“ Why you look?” he asked. “No man there 
— man gone!” 

“ Where is he gone?” asked Dick, finding 
his tongue for the first time. “ I left him only 
a short time ago.” 

“Me kill him — shoot— scalp — kill — heap — ^ 
big Injin — whoop — oogh — oogh I” 

This astounding information would have 
added to the terror of the boy, had not the 
Sioux laid it on a little too thick. 

Dick was sure that the redskin was uttering 
a falsehood, with the intention of deceiving him. 

It was clearly impossible that the savage 
should have been the author of the trapper’s 
death. 

The Indian showed he had been in no such 
desperate scrimmage as would have been in- 
evitable had he attempted to get the better of 
so herculean-limbed a fellow as Black Sam. 

The only way in which an advantage could 
be gained was by taking a stealthy shot at him, 
and that could not have been done without the 
report being heard by Dick, who was within a 
comparatively short distance. 


LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS. 


119 


Still it would hardly do to intimate to the 
Indian that he was guilty of an attempt to de- 
ceive, and Dick simply tried to look as if he 
believed the astounding statement. 

It seemed to the boy that the wisest and, in- 
deed, the only thing he could do, was to gain 
all the time possible, in the hope that the sus- 
picions of the trapper would be excited by his 
absence, and he would appear in time to pre- 
vent the hostile from carrying out the threats 
that he had uttered. 

It is no very pleasant task to entertain a 
wild Sioux Indian, whose special errand in call- 
ing is to obtain your scalp as a trophy of the 
interview ; but when one is compelled to believe 
that his life depends upon that course, he is 
apt to try pretty hard to talk about something. 

The first question of Dick’s was not very 
well chosen, which was natural under the cir- 
cumstances. 

“What made you kill the white man? He 
was a great hunter.” 

“Sioux kill all white men — white men dogs 
— shoot — kill — scalp — oogh !” 

The redskin’s knowledge of the English lan- 
guage could not be considered very perfect; 


120 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


but there was a native vigor that made up for 
this lack of linguistic lore. 

Dick felt a great desire to say something to 
the Indian that would recommend the trapper 
to his good graces ; but when he recalled that 
Black Sam had made his greatest reputation as 
a slayer of those people, he failed to see in what 
way this object was to be obtained. 

‘‘We are only going through your country,” 
said the boy. “We do not mean to stop any 
longer than we have to; I just caught a couple 
of fish for our dinner, and if you would like 
some. I’ll let you have all you want.” 

The Indian looked very much as if he did 
not exactly comprehend what the pale-face was 
driving at, but he was not at a loss for words 
to reply in his characteristic way : 

“Little pale-face lie — all country Injin’s — 
white man try steal — In jin great warrior-— 
shoot all white men — scalp — shoot — kill.” 

This specimen of the red man seemed to have 
his pet words and expressions, judging from 
the phrases that fell from his lips. 

During the interview, thus far, the Indian 
had occupied a position some fifteen or twenty 
feet distant ; but he now began to show a dis- 


LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS. 


121 


position to shorten the space between them. As 
he uttered the last word he strode forward a 
couple of steps, and placed his hand upon the 
knife at his waist. Dick shrank back, intend- 
ing to cry out and run the instant the critical 
moment should come. 

The Sioux must have observed this action 
upon the part of the boy, but he instantly 
paused and stood motionless, probably feeling 
that the little fellow was his beyond all possibil- 
ity of escape, and he chose to act the part of 
the cat, which is fond of playing with the 
mouse before making a feast upon it. 

There can be little doubt that the Indian in- 
tended from the first to destroy the boy before 
him ; but, as the highest earthly enjoyment for 
one of his race is to witness the suffering of a 
fellow -mortal, it may have occurred to him, 
while keeping up his jerky conversation, that 
it would be a much wiser and more satisfactory 
proceeding to take the little fellow home with 
him as a prisoner. By this means he would 
earn the everlasting gratitude of all the war- 
riors, squaws, and children, down to the tod 
dling papooses in his tribe. 

What a treat it would be to see the white 


122 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


prisoner writhe under the torture which they 
would he sure to apply ! 

Some such thoughts must have passed 
through the head of the warrior, to cause him 
to change his intention, as shown in the sudden 
stoppage when in the very act of advancing to 
carry out his purpose of putting him to death. 

“ White dog go with big In jin,” said the red- 
skin, once more striding toward the shrinking 
boy. 

“Do you mean to kill me?” asked Dick, 
uncertain as to whether he should cry out and 
try to make his escape by starting on a run in 
the direction of where he supposed Sam to be, 
or whether he should stand still a little while 
longer, in the hope of gaining a few more 
minutes, in which it was possible the trapper 
might come to his rescue. 

“No; me no kill — me take home — make my 
son — grow big warrior.” 

This proposition was an improvement on that 
of sudden death, and Dick drew a great sigh 
of relief ; for no one could realize more vividly 
than he that while there was life there was 
hope. 

“Yes,” he answered, “I’ll go with you and 


LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS. 123 

become a great warrior; I’ll be your son, for 
my father is dead.” 

‘‘Come with me,” added the savage in a 
somewhat more conciliatory manner than he 
had shown heretofore; “white boy will be 
great chief of Sioux— kill good many white 
men.” 

This was not a very winning prospect to one 
of Dick’s disposition, who could have no wish 
to grow up into a chief of a tribe of Indians, 
whose claim to glory should rest upon the 
number of white men whom he should kill. 

By affecting a cheerful consent he had hope 
of winning the forbearance, not to say good- 
will, of his captor; but, more than all, he was 
sure of gaining time thereby, for Black Sam 
to acquaint himself with the situation of affairs. 
The trapper had only to learn what had taken 
place to cause him to take a hand in the busi- 
ness ; and when he undertook anything of that 
sort he generally succeeded in doing effective 
work. 

As Dick had done so well so far, he concluded 
to try something in the way of strategy. 

“ Will my father let me go back and get my 
gun?” 


124 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


This, as the expression goes, was a little too 
thin, and it failed to accomplish the purpose 
intended. The Indian would have shown him- 
self more stupid than mankind are generally 
made had he consented to anything of the sort. 

“ The Sioux great warriors — have many guns 
— give white boy all want — come ’long — ^go 
with warrior — make him son.” 

There seemed to he no help for it, and Dick 
prepared to accompany his captor. 


Looking up he saiu a brawny y muscular Indian warrior."— {Page iiT. 







CHAPTER VII. 


A TIMELY RESCUE. 

Dick Stoddard would have preferred to 
wait longer, but he dared not presume further 
upon the forbearance of the Sioux warrior, 
whose leniency had already shown itself in a 
most unaccountable manner, and which, it is 
safe to say, would not have stood any further 
trespass upon his part. 

Accordingly, he left the fish lying upon the 
ground, and signified, by his look and manner, 
that he was ready to obey the orders of his new 
master. 

“Where man?” inquired the redskin, seem- 
ingly forgetful of the declaration he had made 
but a short time before. 

“I left him back yonder a little way, clean- 
ing his gun, and mine, too. After he had got 
through that he meant to get a fire ready, so 
as to cook the fish which I caught.” 

The Indian stood for several minutes looking 
125 


126 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


in the direction indicated, as if expecting to 
see the individual about whom he had just 
made inquiry. 

But rocks and trees, filled in with dense un- 
dergrowth, shut off any extended view in that 
direction, and the redskin at last turned around 
with the purpose of marching off with his cap- 
tive. 

The lad had entertained the hope, up to this 
moment, that this occasion would afford him a 
good chance to give his captor the slip. 

But all such intentions were dashed by the 
course of the Sioux, who motioned him to take 
the advance, while he followed in the rear, 
where he could watch every movement of the 
lad, and defeat any purpose that he might 
be revolving in his mind as to giving him 
the slip. 

“I wonder how long before Sam will miss 
me?” thought Dick, as he obeyed the savage. 
‘‘If he don’t come pretty soon it will be too 
late, for I suppose this fellow has lots of other 
Indians near-by.” 

Try as much as he might, the boy could find 
very little in his situation that gave him ground 
for hope. 


A TIMELY RESCUE. 


127 


It seemed to him that he might be absent a 
whole hour without causing any misgiving 
upon the part of Sam, who would merely con- 
clude that the fish, owing, perhaps, to the late- 
ness of the season, were not disposed to bite as 
readily as usual. 

It might be several hours, indeed, before his 
fears would lead him to start on a hunt for the 
young fisherman. 

The Indian indicated that the boy should fol- 
low a course that led directly up the stream 
from which the fish were taken, and Dick had 
scarcely started, when he played a little trick 
that would have done credit to one of a great 
many more years than he. 

Like the land all around them, the surface 
was much broken, and the boy had taken but 
a step or two when he stumbled on pur- 
pose. 

At the instant of striking, he gave utterance 
to a sharp cry, loud enough to be heard a con- 
siderable distance. 

The Indian jerked out his hunting-knife, 
and with his painted face aflame with passion, 
made a rush at him. 

Dick dropped upon his knees, threw up his 


128 


THE GOLDEN KOCK. 


hands, and let out a scream louder than before, 
and which contained no notes that were not 
genuine. 

The Indian was furious, and could not forgive 
such an exposure of the game, even though he 
believed it involuntary. 

The hair of the boy was short, but his cap- 
tor seemed determined to secure the scalp, and 
no doubt would have succeeded but for the rea- 
son that he was prevented. 

He had not yet succeeded in getting a firm 
bold of the short locks, when a sharp, clear 
voice rang out : 

“Hold thar!” 

The Indian paused, with one hand in the 
hair of the cowering boy, and with the other 
resting on the handle of his hunting-knife. 

He turned his head toward the point whence 
came the voice, and, as he did so, he was just 
in time to catch the flash of a gun not more 
than a dozen yards away. 

That gun was held in the hands of Black 
Sam, the trapper, and the aim was as true as 
ever made by hunter. It may be truly said 
that the Sioux never knew what killed him. 
He had time scarcely to utter the single out- 


A TIMELY RESCUE. 


129 


cry, which all Indians are supposed to give as 
the breath leaves the body. 

The hand upon the knife made a spasmodic 
movement, which did not quite succeed in draw- 
ing the weapon forth, and he fell forward at 
the very feet of him whom he intended to 
slay. 

‘‘Now, Dick,” called out the trapper, “I 
want you to go back and pick up them ’ere 
fish, and carry ’em to the camp-fire; it would 
sarve you right if I made you dress ’em, 
too, and I’d make you do that same thing ef 
I thought you knowed how ; but bein’ as you 
don’t. I’ll ’tend to that part of the business 
meself . ” 

It was characteristic of the man that he 
made no reference to the deed which he had 
just done. He comported himself as if un- 
aware that he had sent a soul into eternity, the 
fact that he was clearly justifiable, doubtless, 
having much to do with his manner. 

With the boy, the case was different. He 
was shocked beyond expression. He stood for 
a full minute staring, as if bewildered and 
dazed by what had taken place before his eyes, 

and it was not until the trapper spoke in a 
9 


130 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


sharp tone that he roused himself and seemed 
to understand the words spoken. 

“I wish, Sam, that you would hurry and get 
all the furs you need, so we can leave such a 
dreadful country as this. If things go along 
this way, I can never stand it.” 

‘‘That ain’t the way to talk, Dick, though I 
kin understand how a little matter like this 
would sorter stir you up; but you must get 
used to such things. Come, if we are to get 
to the trapping-grounds to-morrow, we must 
hurry up our dinner and be off.” 

Dick followed his friend to where the fishes 
were lying on the ground, just as he had left 
them. The hunter picked them up, and, as he 
walked along, swung them as gayly as if he 
had been on a mere fishing excursion. 

“We’ve been so long without anything of 
this kind, that a dinner of fish will taste good ; 
what do you think?” 

“I suppose so,” replied Dick, who felt that 
he must say something in answer to the re- 
marks of his friend. 

“Wall, we’ll soon see ’bout that. I’ve got 
everything ready and waiting.” 

The fire had been kindled before the trapper 


A TIMELY RESCUE. 


131 


left to go in quest of his young friend, and all 
that was necessary now was to lay the fish on 
the coals and let them broil. 

During the brief period thus occupied, Sam 
related how it was that he came to reach the 
spot in time to save his young friend, in the 
hands of the Sioux Indian. 

“You see, you hadn’t been gone long when, 
all at once, an idea of the queerest kind came 
into my head. I felt that I’d done a very fool- 
ish thing in sending you off that way without 
so much as a gun, the queer part of the busi- 
ness bein’ that I didn’t think of it before I 
sent you. Wall, it struck me so hard that I 
couldn’t drive it away ; that ain’t the first time 
that I’ve had such warnings, and I’ve always 
found that it’s the safest plan to foller ’em. I 
had finished cleaning the guns, and I slapped 
a charge into mine without waitin’ to load 
yours; then I just travelled after you, and you 
know that I didn’t reach you any too soon.” 

“How was it the Indian didn’t kill me as 
he said he meant to do when he first caught 
me?” 

“Did he tell you that?” asked Sam, in sur- 
prise. 


132 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


“ Yes ; and he told me that he had killed you, 
too.’’ 

“ That’s the way with all of them varmint 
you meet in this part of the world. They have 
’nough of our style of talkin’ to brag and 
blow of what they can do; I hope you didn’t 
believe what he told you ’bout raisin’ my 
hair.” 

‘‘I was a little scared at first, but when I 
come to think, I knew he wasn’t telling the 
truth.” 

“ No, my boy, it will never do to think any- 
thing truth that you hear an Injin tell.” 

It seems to me that if there is one Indian 
near here, there is apt to be more.” 

“Your head is level on that p’int, Dick; you 
couldn’t very well go amiss on that, anyway. 
Injins are as nat’ral to this part of the country 
as rattlesnakes and all sorts of varmints.” 

‘‘How near do you think the others are 
to us?” 

“This one that we just put to sleep may 
have come from the camp-fire which we seen 
a mile or two away ; and then again it may he 
that thar’s a whole party of ’em within a few 
hundred yards of whar we be this very minit.” 


A TIMELY RESCUE. 


133 


If that is so they must have heard your gun 
go off, and they will be looking to see what it 
means, won’t they?” 

“ Thar your head ain’t so level, Dick. S’pose 
the varmints did hear the gun, they’ll think 
that it was fired by the Injin himself, don’t you 
see? and then he might be gone a whole day 
without thar thinkin’ that he’d run inter any 
trouble.” 

“But we’ve had a fire going, and it may be 
that they have seen it, and if they have, I 
should think they will be looking after us.” 

“You’re right, Dick, and now that we’ve 
got our fill of fish, we’ll be off. Come, let’s 
jump aboard our bosses and start.” 

Dick Stoddard was only too glad to follow 
the suggestion of his friend. 

The beasts appeared as anxious to be off as 
their riders, and the latter were scarcely in the 
saddles when they were under way at as rapid 
a gait as the ground would allow. 

Black Sam showed by his manner that he 
did not feel easy over their situation. 

He picked their route with greater care 
than before, cautioned his young friend 
against speaking too loud, and asked him 


134 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


to keep a sharp watch for all signs of their 
enemies. 

“You see, we’re so close to the beaver runs, 
whar we are to stay a while, that I want too 
slide into ’em without any of the varmints ob- 
sarvin’ us.” 

“Can’t we do it to-night by travelling after 
dark? There isn’t any moon, and they won’t 
be able to see us.” 

“Wall, that will help some, I s’pose, but we 
can manage it to-day if we have good luck and 
take care of ourselves.” 

The country through which they were jour- 
neying at this time was nearer level than any 
they had passed over since morning. 

It had the appearance of a valley, broad, 
spacious, and walled in on each hand by moun- 
tains, varying in height from a few hundred 
to two and three thousand feet. 

These elevations of land were several miles 
apart, and they continued as far forward as the 
eye could penetrate. 

The trapper stated that their destination lay 
at the termination of this valley, which was 
less than twenty miles away. 

The space of land lying between these moun- 


A TIMELY RESCUE. 


135 


tain ranges, including tens of thousands of 
acres, was covered almost entirely with a 
stunted growth of oak, with here and there a 
few pine and cottonwood. 

It was a noticeable fact regarding the last- 
named tree that its bark was a great favorite 
with the two horses. 

Sam told the boy that they frequently ate 
it in preference to grass. 

As they rode along, the trapper narrowly 
scrutinized the sloping sides of the mountain 
ranges on their right and left. 

The veteran was on his mettle now, deter- 
mined not to be caught napping. 

The afternoon was nearly gone before any 
sign was discovered, and even that did not 
amount to enough to cause them any particular 
misgiving, it being simply a thin, spiral col- 
umn of smoke that was fully two miles away 
on their left. 

He supposed it came from the camp of an 
enemy, as a matter of course ; although Sam 
stated that some of his old acquaintances, and 
some who were not friends, occasionally pene- 
trated into this part of the world in quest of 
peltries and game. 


136 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


It was not impossible, although very improb- 
able, that there was a camp of white men there. 

Besides this, there were rumors of gold, even 
at that day, among the Black Hills. 

These rumors were little more than whispers 
that were repeated by a few hunters and trap- 
pers that had been in the habit of visiting these 
dangerous regions for many years ; but, as such 
stories have been told regarding every part of 
the great West since the discovery of gold in 
California, nothing like a general belief was 
obtained until a few years since. 

While the view of the two was extended in 
every direction, yet at the same time they 
themselves were peculiarly exposed to obser- 
vation from any who might be passing along, 
or camping upon the slope of the mountain. 

As the night closed in and the sun disap- 
peared behind the peaks on their left, the trap- 
per expressed himself as pretty well convinced 
that they had escaped attracting the attention 
of any of the numerous bands of Indians that 
were always prowling through the country, 
and he was qinte hopeful of reaching the trap^ 
ping-grounds without further molestation from 
them. 


A TIMELY RESCUE. 


137 


To Dick Stoddard, as to many an older per* 
son, it was a mystery how the old hunter could 
read so unerringly signs that seemed absolutely 
hidden from other eyes. 

Often, when riding along, Sam would call 
the attention of his young friend to little indi- 
cations of the work of their enemies which a 
day’s searching would have failed to reveal to 
him. 

Fully a half-dozen times as they were jour- 
neying in this fashion the trapper would sud- 
denly point to the ground, and say : 

“See thar, Dick; that’s a purty plain trail, 
ain’t it? If they knowed a couple of gentle- 
men like us war cornin’ ’long this way, they 
would’ve been more careful, wouldn’t they?” 

And then the youth would look and do his 
utmost to discover what the particular signs 
were to which he referred, and unable to dis- 
tinguish them he would answer: 

“ I don’t see how they could be more careful, 
when I can’t find anything at all that looks 
like the tracks of a horse or man.” 

“Is it possible?” asked Sam, in genuine sur- 
prise. “Why, I don’t understand how you 
can help seeing them when they are as plenty 


138 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


as blackberries in August ; but then I s’pose a 
feller has to larn such things the same as every- 
thing else. Thar be some little cranks and 
things and notions that I don’t know.” 

‘‘Hello! do you hear that?” exclaimed the 
boy, as a rumble of thunder seemed to come 
from the mountain on their right. 

The trapper looked attentively at the sky in 
front, and on either hand, and shook his head. 

“ We’ll catch it this time, sartin sure.” 

“Do you mean to say a storm is coming?” 

“There ain’t any doubt of it; I’ve travelled 
too long in these parts to make a mistake ’bout 
such a simple thing as that; yes, it is goin’ to 
come down in the old-fashioned style; and 
when it does blow and rain in this part of the 
world, it takes the hide off.” 

“Where will we be when it begins?” 

“ Safe in shelter ; thar’s hardly a mile of land 
atween here and Omaha that I hain’t been 
cotched in by a storm, so I make it a p’int to 
have some hole that I can crawl inter. If it 
should begin inside of half an hour I’d run you 
inter a place whar not a drop of water could 
wet a hair of your head. So, Dick, be easy on 
that, will you?” 


A TIMELY RESCUE. 


139 


What you say, Sam, I’ll always believe,” 
replied the boy, with no little feeling; for at that 
moment there came an overwhelming sense of 
the great service his friend was rendering him 
in devoting so much of his time and earnings 
to the use of one of whom he had never heard 
until a short period before. 

Sam had told enough during the time which 
they had spent together to let him see that his 
profession was not only attended with great 
personal peril, but at the same time was one of 
the least remunerative pursuits in the wide 
world. 

The old scarred hunter seemed touched by 
this evidence of the confidence of the youth. 
He was silent a minute, as if in deep thought, 
and then looking toward the little fellow, he 
said, in a voice strangely modulated : 

‘‘Do you know, Dick, that I’d rather be 
skulped, shot, and shoved clean under than to 
have you ever feel that you’d made a mistake 
in sayin’ that ’ere what you said just now?. 
It’s done me more good than anything that’s 
happened to me since I stood at my dyin’ 
mother’s bedside. But come; we’ve just ’bout 
time to get to cover— the storm is almost on us. ” 


CHAPTER VIII. 


A STORM IN THE NORTHWEST. 

Sam the trapper and Dick Stoddard had 
barely time to reach shelter when the storm 
burst upon them. 

In such a country as that through which 
they were travelling it is a comparatively small 
matter to find security against all the elemental 
disturbances to which the region is subject. 

Some of the grandest exhibitions of nature 
are seen in the West and Northwest. 

Vast, towering mountains, canons of almost 
fathomless depth, yawning precipices, caverns 
of breathless darkness, monarchs of the wood, 
with a height and spread hardly equalled in any 
other part of the world — all these, and much 
more, characterize that region, which, in many 
respects, is unsurpassed by any other on the 
globe. 

The shelter to which our two friends fled 

before the coming storm was like those that 
140 


A STOEM IN THE NORTHWEST. 141 

may be found in almost any part of the West, 
consisting of merely a mass of rocks piled 
together in such profusion that the wonder 
would have been to fail to find the refuge 
which they sought. 

Hastily dismounting, they as hastily un- 
strapped their luggage, and with all in their 
arms, ran to the haven just as a few large 
drops of water gave token of what was com- 
ing. 

‘‘Here we are,’’ called out the trapper, as he 
threw himself upon his knees and crawled for- 
ward a few feet; “hurry ’long, Dick, for thar 
is a young deluge cornin’; but we’re just in 
time.” 

Indeed, they were none too soon, for at that 
moment a peal of thunder shook the earth as 
if it were rent by an earthquake. 

At the same instant, a flame of sheet-light- 
ning lit up the whole sky, causing the crags 
and cliffs to stand out with wonderful vividness 
and distinctness. 

The horses were left to themselves, as the 
roof which covered the travellers was altogether 
too low to allow them to avail themselves of it. 

Here, lying flat upon their faces, Sam and 


142 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


Dick watched and listened to the raging of the 
tempest. 

The flashing of the lightning and the ear- 
splitting peals of thunder were incessant. At 
times the whole heavens seemed on Are, while 
the booming and crashing made it appear as if 
all of heaven’s artillery” were bombarding the 
trembling earth below. 

. Even a veteran like the trapper was impressed 
with the sublime display of the power of nature, 
and the grand exhibition of the latent and ter* 
rifle resources of the great magazine of the uni- 
verse. 

It would have been difficult for them to 
make themselves heard amid such an over- 
powering din and tumult. 

Neither attempted, for a time, to speak, and 
it may be doubted whether they would have 
done so had they been sure of easy converse. 

The descending torrents of rain, illuminated 
by the intense glare of lightning, looked like 
the innumerable spears of an army, and the 
drops of water were of a size scarcely credible. 

They rattled upon the leaves and against the 
rock with a noise like that of immense hail- 
stones. 


A STORM IN THE NORTHWEST. 


143 


The violence of the concussion was such that 
a spray and naist rose from the ground, and the 
two were compelled to push further hack in the 
cavernous retreat, to save themselves from a 
wetting from this source alone. 

Kemembering the narration of the trapper re- 
garding the flood in which he and his compan- 
ion were caught when in the canon, Dick 
shouted his fear of something similar befalling 
them on the present occasion. 

But Sam quieted his misgivings by assuring 
him that he had taken refuge in this very place 
at least a dozen times before, and it was im- 
possible that anything of the kind should take 
place. 

Gazing out from their secure shelter, the 
scene was impressive in the highest degree. 

They were situated on quite an elevated piece 
of ground, so that, as they looked off toward 
the west, they saw not a little of the valley 
through which they had been riding. 

This portion, as at first viewed, was made up 
mainly of boulders and black, jagged rock, 
which, under the deluging they received from 
the torrent of rain, speedily assumed an appear- 
ance of being covered with a sheeting of ice. 


144 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


which glistened under the flaming lightning 
like burnished silver. 

From these too, the recoil of the rain caused 
a thin, misty shower of water to rise, which 
had a peculiar appearance, rarely seen. 

The two were gazing in silence upon the 
scene, lit up by the rapid flaming of lightning, 
when Dick was startled by the sound of falling 
water; it was not that caused by the rain itself, 
but resembled the pouring of some large stream 
over a precipice. 

The cause was soon manifest. A current, 
equal to a goodly-sized creek, was rushing 
down the mountain side, in the rear of the pile 
of rocks which afforded the two their shelter, 
and, instead of running around the obstruction, 
as would seem to be the natural course, it 
poured directly over the whole mass. 

The result was a sheet of water, fully twenty 
feet in width, and with a depth of several 
inches, shooting over the rocks immediately in 
front of our friends. Had this curtain been 
composed of clear liquid, free from impurity, 
the effect would have been beautiful in the ex- 
treme. 

It would have been as if the fairies had spread 


A STORM IN THE NORTHWEST. 


145 


a veil of gauzy texture before their view to 
temper the vivid intensity of the lightning; 
but, unfortunately for such a fancy, the water 
was of the muddiest possible character, and 
acted more like an impenetrable shutter than 
anything else. 

The fact that they were surrounded by a 
sheet of water could not but arouse the fears 
of Dick again. The instant he saw what was 
going on, he started to scramble out into the 
open air again ; but the strong arm of the trap- 
per restrained him. 

“What you tryin’ to do?” he shouted. 

“I don’t want to get drowned,” was the 
answer. 

“All you’ve got ter do, then, is ter stay 
whar you be;” and then, as might have been 
expected, Sam supplemented his order with the 
statement that he had seen the same thing 
before, and indeed had lain in precisely the 
same position when a similar exhibition took 
place. 

This served to keep the boy still, although 
the scene was so startling that it can hardly 
be said his fears were wholly removed. 

The storm, as might have been expected, was 
10 


146 


G6lDEN ROCE. 


as short as violent. In a few minutes there 
was a sensible diminution in the depth of the 
cataract pouring over the rocks. It speedily 
grew less and less, until breaks were distin- 
guished here and there, and shortly after it 
ceased altogether. Then, as their view was 
cleared once more, they observed that the rain 
itself had almost ended. They had but to look 
a short time longer, when the air was as free of 
the tempest as it was at the beginning of the 
day. 

The thunder receded in the distance, until 
only a few sullen rumblings and mutterings 
were heard; the flashes of lightning grew of 
less intensity and further between, until they, 
too, were no more than faint quiverings of 
light, such as are seen at the close of a hot 
suiflmer day, when the heat-lightning, as it is 
termed, plays along the horizon. 

“I wonder what has become of the horses, 
Sam? They must have been scared by the 
noise of the thunder and the sharp flashes of 
lightning.” 

“They may be a mile off, for all I know.” 

“Then they are lost, if they are that far! 
What shall we do?” 


A STORM IN THE NORTHWEST. 


147 


“ The best thing that I can think of is to go 
to sleep,” was the characteristic answer of the 
trapper, as he prepared to act upon his own 
suggestion. 

The promise of Sam had been fulfilled to the 
letter. The shelter to which he conducted his 
friend had proven a secure one in every respect. 

At one time, it may be said of them, they 
were surrounded by water, and their situation 
seemed critical in the extreme ; but all danger, 
if indeed there were at any time real danger, 
was now happily past, and it only remained for 
the friends to make themselves as comfortable 
as possible under the circumstances. 

Supper, of course, was out of the question. 
The trapper said he was rather pleased than 
otherwise that they were placed in such a 
strait, for it was time that the boy began to 
learn to undergo hunger and privation. 

No boy is particularly anxious to take lessons 
in that school, but as there seemed no way to 
avoid it at this time, Dick could do nothing 
less than submit. 

Thanking Heaven for its watchful care over 
him in the past, he lay down beside his com- 
panion, and in a few minutes was asleep. 


148 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


The night passed without anything occurring 
to disturb the two, and neither opened his eyes 
until the bright morning sun was shining in 
their faces, when, as might be supposed, the 
trapper was the first to regain his senses. 

Both were ravenously hungry, but neither 
made reference to the fact. 

Sam felt that it was useless, as some time 
must necessarily pass before anything in the 
way of food could he procured. 

Dick Stoddard recalled what his friend said 
the night before, and he was resolved to starve 
before he would say anything that could be con- 
strued into a confession of weakness; but the 
trapper had no purpose of making too severe a 
strain upon the endurance of the little fellow. 

‘‘The first thing that we must do,” said he, 
“is to hunt up the bosses; for don’t you see 
that we can’t do anything in the way of travel- 
lin’ till we get the animals?” 

Dick was tempted to reply that in his opinion 
it was equally impossible to do anything effec- 
tive without a supply of something for the 
nourishment of the body; but he held out in 
his resolve to remain mute as to his sufferings 
in this respect, and so he kept his peace. 


A STORM IN THE NORTHWEST. 149 

Leaving the rocks beneath which they had 
taken shelter, they emerged into the broad val- 
ley through which they had travelled so many 
miles the day before. 

Signs of the violence of the storm were 
abundant on every hand; but the slope of the 
land was such that the water had run off rapid- 
ly, and there was little or no difficulty in mak- 
ing their way to the northward, that being the 
direction in which Sam was quite certain the 
horses had gone. 

The rain had obliterated all signs of the trail 
of the animals, which, at any other time, would 
have been an unerring guide to where they had 
wandered, so that he found himself compelled 
to rely upon his own wits in making the search. 

‘‘I’m purty sartin’,”said he, “that Screamer 
has gone toward the north, ’cause he has 
tramped over this ground with me often ’nough 
to know where we’re aimin’ at, and if he heads 
toward the north, he’s goin’ to take your Jack 
with him, you can be sartin.” 

“ It seems to me, we ought to see some signs 
of them if that is the case ; for I can look a 
long way ahead, and I can’t make out a sign of 
anything like a man or animal; do you?” 


150 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


Black Sam had ascended a high rock hut a 
short distance from those that had served as a 
shelter, and in as elevated a position as he 
could secure, he was scanning the long stretch 
of country thus opened before him. 

He made no answer for several minutes. 

“Thar might be a hundred bosses,” said he, 
as he leaped down to the ground again “and 
you could stand and stare till thar warn't no 
eyes left in your head, and yet you wouldn’t 
see anything of ’em. Sometimes, when 
Screamer was a little frisky, he has slipped off 
and hid hisself, and you orter seen me look for 
him! That old tooth-pick would just stand 
still, in some spot, mebhe not more than fifty 
yards from whar he started, and if I haven’t 
just walked ’round and ’round that critter, 
sometimes near ’nough to spit a mouthful of 
’bacca-juice in his eye, and yet I’d never set 
one peeper onto him. If you’ve ever hunted 
for a cow at home, you know how it is your- 
self.” 

“ If horses are anything like cows, when they 
get among the trees and know you’re looking 
for them, I know how hard it is to find them, 
for I’ve hunted them all the afternoon till 


A STORM IN THE NORTHWEST. 


151 


night, when I got so mad and tired that I’ve 
gone home crying, and then found out that I’d 
almost run against them more than once.” 

Nothing remained for man and boy to do but 
to hunt for the missing animals, and they set 
about it immediately, separating by a distance 
of fully a hundred yards, so as to make their 
search as effective as possible. 

The trapper had already signalled to his steed 
several times without result. He was quite 
well satisfied that Screamer, wherever he was, 
heard the call, which was simply a long and 
shrill whistle, resembling the cry of a bird 
found in the Northwest. 

It was so naturally executed that the suspi- 
cious ear of the Sioux and Blackfoot might 
easily mistake it for the voice of the bird itself, 
but the equine ears for which it was intended 
never erred, although they frequently pre- 
tended they did. 

‘‘I don’t mind a joke now and then,” said 
Sam, speaking as if he felt himself obliged to 
apologize for the conduct of his steed, “and 
you see, the worst of it is, Screamer knows it, 
and he’s playin’ off one of his little games on 
me. Wall, it ain’t so nice when the joke takes 


i52 


THE GOLDEN KOCK. 


that shape, but thar ain’t no use in getting 
mad over it, so here goes.” 

By this time the two were so far apart that 
anything like a conversation was out of the 
question, and henceforth, for a time, the hunt 
was prosecuted independently of each other. 

The result was a surprise and agreeable dis- 
appointment to both. 

Less than ten minutes elapsed, after the 
words just given, when, as Dick was passing a 
small clump of trees, he turned his head, and 
there, right before his eyes, stood the two 
animals for which they were looking. 


CHAPTEE IX. 

THE trapper’s HOME. 

A SHOUT callod th© trappor to th© spot, and, 
as may b© suppos©d, on© was as much delighted 
as th© other. Th© saddles and luggage were 
speedily transferred to the backs of the steeds, 
together with the owners themselves, and th© 
journey toward the north resumed. 

Th© sun was an hour high, and still nothing 
was said of food. 

But Sam was on the lookout, with no inten- 
tion of causing his young friend to wait longer 
than necessary. 

It was hardly possible that any one should be 
compelled to look long for gam© in such a 
region, and th© two were hardly under way 
when th© trapper, who was slightly in advance, 
raised his gun and, without a word, fired. 

‘‘What did you shoot at?” asked Dick, look- 
ing in the direction of the aim, without detect- 
ing th© target. 


153 


154 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


“ Take a look inter them bushes over yonder, 
and see if thar’s anything that’ll do ter make 
a meal off of.” 

“Maybe you’ve shot something that isn’t 
dead yet, and I’d rather wait till there isn’t any 
danger of its hurting me.” 

“If it wasn’t dead, you’d hear it flounderin’ 
’round thar ; now, jist listen and tell me if you 
do.” 

All was still as the tomb. 

Dick Stoddard had dismounted at the first 
suggestion of the trapper, and with his gun 
tightly grasped, and himself ready for any 
emergency, he advanced toward the dense 
growth of bushes that had been pointed out 
as the place where it was worth his while to 
look for the results of the shot. 

They were found in the shape of a half grown 
buffalo, that had probably started out that day 
to see the world for itself and had met with 
rather a discouraging reception, inasmuch as 
it had been shot so dead by the trapper, that 
it barely gave more than a feeble expiring 
kick as it departed this life. 

The creature was in capital condition, and 
was the most welcome sort of game that two 


THE trapper’s HOME. 


155 


hungry travellers could have secured. Only a 
few minutes were needed to prepare it for the 
fire, hut a longer time was required to prepare 
the fire for the meat, on account of the “moist- 
ness” that pervaded everything. 

But the veteran hunter was equal to the 
emergency, and in a short time he had the fire 
under way, and in a still briefer period the 
morning meal was cooked and disposed of. 

Then, strengthened and renewed, the last 
stage of their journey was undertaken and soon 
finished. 

The valley through which they had been 
travelling for so long a time now widened out 
and lost its distinctive character, the mountain 
on either hand seeming to encroach upon the 
lower portion in such a way that it was 
hard to tell where one ended and the other 
began. 

The journeying became more difficult and the 
scenery more broken and rugged — so much so, 
indeed, that in more than one place the two 
were forced to dismount and lead the way, 
while their animals followed them as best they 
could. 

This was kept up for something like an hour, 


156 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


by which time Dick was thoroughly out of 
breath. 

The lad, however, sturdily held his peace, so 
far as anything like murmuring was concerned, 
and labored forward as if his life depended on 
his efforts. 

All at once Black Sam stopped, and, with a 
sigh, said: 

“ Look around you, Dick, and tell me what 
you see.” 

The boy had already done considerable look- 
ing, and replied that he did not notice any- 
thing very much different from that which they 
had been viewing for the last week or two. 

“ Wall, here we are going to stay for a week, 
or month, or two, or three, according to the 
way the beavers run.” 

At this announcement Dick studied the situ- 
ation more carefully, and was not a little puz- 
zled to understand where they were to find ac- 
commodations that would serve to keep them 
comfortable during the severe weather to which 
they were likely to be exposed during the 
winter, now almost upon them. 

But if it had answered as a secure shelter 
for so many seasons in the past, it was reason- 


THE trapper’s HOME. 


157 


able to suppose that it would answer that pur- 
pose again. 

The horses were once more unloaded of their 
burdens, even to their bridles, and then they 
were turned loose to shift for themselves. 

“What’s to hinder the Indians from taking 
them?” asked Dick, as the released steeds flung 
up their heels and dashed away, rejoicing in 
their newly found freedom. 

“I don’t know as thar’s anything to hender, 
and that’s one of the risks that we trappers 
always have to run in these parts. Howsum- 
ever. I’ll say for your encouragement that, 
during all the years that I have spent in the 
trapping profession, I never failed to be able 
to get my horse when I wanted him.” 

The scenery surrounding their new home 
was of the same general character as that with 
which they had become familiar long since, and 
which had lost its power to interest the boy. 

Off to the northward, and far to the west, in 
the very horizon, was to be seen a range of 
mountains, looking dim, misty, and blue 
against the sky. 

They were many miles distant, and in keep- 
ing with the sublime scenery on every hand. 


158 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


Immediately surrounding them were the 
rocks, ravines, gullies, chasms, precipices, and 
craggy steeps, from which Dick Stoddard had 
drawn back so many times, frightened and 
appalled. 

There were trees, some of which were of con- 
siderable size. 

As they stood upon a somewhat elevated 
position, they heard the murmur and distant 
roar of more than one waterfall. 

The view to the south and east was of scarce- 
ly any extent at all, the country being so 
broken as to shut off the scope of the eye in 
that direction. 

Although it was comparatively early in the 
autumn, yet there were signs of winter in the 
air. 

The wind, as it whistled around the rocks 
and among the trees, had a dismal moaning, 
such as presages the snow-storm in more civil- 
ized parts of our country, and there was a crisp, 
keen vigor in the atmosphere, even when un- 
stirred, that made the sunshine welcome to 
man and beast. 

These were nights, too, when the camp-fire, 
kindled against the rocks„ gave out a warmth 


THE trapper’s HOME. 


159 


exceedingly grateful to the boy, who felt at 
the same time that, but for his blanket, he 
would have suffered a great deal already. 

“Wall, now that you’ve looked around,” 
said Sam, “we’ll see what sort of a shanty 
we’ve got to make our home!” 


CHAPTEE X. 


TRAPPING FOR BEAVERS. 

Having made themselves familiar with the 
outside of the residence which they expected to 
occupy for some weeks or months to come, the 
two now took a view of the interior of their 
mansion. 

Here, as in all other cases where the oppor- 
tunity was given. Black Sam showed natural 
ingenuity. 

It was impossible that in such endless con- 
fusion and tumbling of masses of rocks as were 
exhibited all round, there should not be some 
instances that could be turned to account. 

The trapper led the way between some boul- 
ders for a distance, when Dick noticed that the 
passage was arched and covered overhead, its 
peculiar appearance showing that it had been 
done entirely by nature. 

Continuing still forward the two entered a 

cavern some fifty feet in length, with a width 
160 


TRAPPING FOR BEAVERS. 


161 


varying from a half-dozen to five times as 
many feet. 

The height was of the same irregular nature 
as was shown at the entrance, where the head 
of Dick just missed touching the top, and at 
the farther extremity a dozen such hoys, stand- 
ing on one another’s heads, would have failed 
to reach the roof. 

Enough light entered this cavern home by 
the same avenue that admitted the man and 
boy to afford a twilight illumination of the in- 
terior, while there were slight crevices and 
cracks in tho solid walls at the other end, to 
make the light at that portion more decided 
than anywhere else. 

So it was that Dick’s eyes required but a 
short time to become accustomed to the mild 
illumination of the interior, and he was able 
to form an intelligent idea of the dwelling- 
house of Black Sam, the trapper. 

The cavern, as described, would have afforded 
shelter from storm and rain at any time, but 
it will be readily seen that it was naturally as 
cold and cheerless a place in winter as can be 
imagined. It was here that the ingenuity of 

the trapper displayed itself. 

11 


162 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


There was more room than was needed, and 
the rear portion, which was lighted as we have 
shown, was appropriated as the real retreat of 
the occupant of the place. 

There Sam had covered the floor, sides, and 
roof with the skins of beavers and buffaloes, so 
well put in place that they had stood for years, 
and promised to stand many years more. 

In the farther extremity was a flreplace, a 
number of stones of smaller size being placed 
in such position that a fire could be easily 
kindled, and at the same time no diflSculty was 
encountered in getting rid of the smoke. 

All this was well arranged, but there were 
other ‘‘points,” which Dick did not learn until 
some time afterward. 

Conducting him to the extreme rear, Sam 
showed his young friend an opening, some- 
thing like a couple of feet in width, which he 
explained led nearly a hundred feet back, when 
it opened out to the world in a way that ren- 
dered it scarcely possible to discover it in pass- 
ing near. 

“You see, Dick, ef the varmints should 
become just a leetle too plenty ’round thar in 
front, why, it’s well to have a back door.” 


TRAPPING FOR BEAVERS. 


163 


Sam showed, still further, that he was always 
in a condition to with stand a prolonged siege. 
It was a settled policy with him to keep a sup- 
ply of provisions on hand, enough to last, in 
case of emergency, several weeks ; and, besides 
all this, the back passage was connected in 
some way with an underground stream of 
water, which, tiny as it was, was still amply 
sufficient to serve the purposes of a dozen men 
cooped up in the cavern and fighting for life. 

We have shown that the trapper was as well 
provided for a winter’s stay in the wilderness 
of the Northwest as he could well be. The effi- 
ciency of his stronghold had undergone a cru- 
cial test more than once. 

Lying flat on his face near the mouth of the 
cavern, he had heard the Sioux howling for his 
life on the outside, while calm, cool, and col- 
lected as he always was, no matter how dan- 
gerous the occasion, he had held his fire, as 
was his practice, until he could make every 
shot tell. He had rolled the heavy stone to the 
entrance, and shot down every redskin that 
dared lay hands on it. 

“I’ve laid in thar, Dick, many a time, when 
ten, fifteen, or twenty varmints on the outside 


164 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


war yellin’ and half crazy for my ha’r, and I 
not knowin’ how soon they’d get it, too; but 
I jest kept low, and didn’t say nothin’ to no- 
body, ’ceptin’ to ask the good Lord above to 
see me through the muss, and I jest loaded my 
gun and banged away every time I could draw 
a bead on a redskin. Then they’d try all sorts 
of tricks on me. They’d make believe they’d 
gone away, so as to throw me off the guard. 
I wouldn’t hear nothin’ fur hour arter hour, 
and, by and by, night would come, and it 
would be as dark as a wolf’s mouth. Things 
couldn’t have been more quiet and solemn if I 
war waitin fur my own fun’ral to come ’long 
and put me away inter the grave; but, you 
see, they didn’t shet the eye of this sinner. 
Mebbe it would be ’bout midnight when I’d 
hear a noise no louder than that made by the 
snake t’other night, that scared you out of a 
year’s growth ; but I knowed what it meant, 
and I jest waited my time. I could tell by the 
sound whar the redskin war, and when things 
looked gay, I dropped onto him, and it war 
good-by, big Injin.” 

“Do you have such trouble every winter, 
Sam?” 


TRAPPING FOR BEAVERS. 


165 


^‘No, not by no means; last season I spent 
three full months and more, and never had 
a redskin say ‘boo’ to me. The loveliness 
of this whole perfession to us is that you 
don’t know when the varmints are likely 
to make a call onter you; but I don’t think 
they’re likely to show their heads for a good 
while.” 

The boy was glad to accept this assurance of 
his friend, and the two at once set about estab- 
lishing themselves in their winter quarters. 

Their blankets and luggage were carefully 
stowed away at the farther end of the room, 
and, as they both felt the need of food, Sam 
concluded to test the pemmican he had left be- 
hind him, months before, at the time he started 
on his return to Omaha with his peltries. 

Pemmican is simply meat cut in long, thin 
strips, without fat, and afterward dried in the 
sun. 

It is sometimes compressed into small bags, 
and is, therefore, a sort of condensed nourish- 
ment, very popular in Canada and the colder 
portions of our own country. 

Besides being nutritious in the highest de- 
gree, it will keep a long time. 


166 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


It is generally an important factor in the 
supplies of the different Arctic expeditions. 

There was no special flavor in the specimens 
which Dick Stoddard tasted; but he pronounced 
a favorable opinion upon it, and, assisted by 
his ravening hunger, he made a substantial 
meal. 

It did not take the two trappers, as they may 
as well be termed, long to adjust matters 
within the cavern, when, as the day was pass- 
ing away, they started out to set the traps for 
the night. 

Before doing so, Sam took a few minutes to 
climb a small tree near at hand, which he had 
often used as a point from which to take his 
observations. 

The view from the crown of this pine was 
the most extensive that could be gained in the 
vicinity. 

Black Sam tarried long enough to render his 
reconnoissance complete, and the result was as 
satisfactory as he could have wished. 

Look in whatsoever direction he chose, no 
signs of the Sioux could be seen. 

The distant hilltops, from which he had so 
often watched the smoke of the hostile camp- 


TRAPPING FOR BEAVERS. 


167 


fires, were now outlined against a sky whose 
atmosphere was unsullied by the slightest taint 
of vapor. 

In a small opening, due north, a few buffa- 
loes were grazing, and this alone was all the 
signs of life that met the eye. 

The next proceeding was to make the round 
of the traps. 

The cold season is manifestly the best time 
in which to take the skins of all fur-bearing 
animals, since the fur is then thicker and in the 
most marketable condition. 

The traps used are made on the same general 
principle as those employed to catch game in 
civilized regions. 

The beavers being unusually intelligent, the 
greatest pains and care are necessary to take 
them. 

The favorite bait is an extremely odoriferous 
substance, obtained from the animal itself. 

It is also indispensable that the contrivance 
which the trapper employs should be concealed 
from sight, else the intended prey is sure to 
give it a wide berth. 

By the time they completed the circuit of the 
eight traps, the sun had set, and the early 


168 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


twilight of the northern autumn was upon 
them. 

Dick saw nothing of the animals which they 
expected to catch, nor, indeed, did Sam him- 
self; for the greatest caution on their part 
would not have enabled them to approach nigh 
enough to gain a view. 

But they observed several dams, and there 
were plenty of evidences that they were in a 
neighborhood where the fur-bearing animals 
abounded. 

Supper was made from the store of pemmi- 
can, and it was quite early in the evening when 
they lay down to rest. 

The weather grew decidedly colder during 
the night, and the thick blankets spread on the 
soft, heavy skins were no more than sufficient 
to keep Dick comfortable ; but by nestling close 
to his big companion, who never appeared to 
suffer from any changes, the boy slept soundly 
until daylight, most of his dreams being of In- 
dians and beavers. 

Before the sun was up, Sam roused his young 
friend, and the two started off to visit their 
traps. 

Whether the old trapper expected to find any- 


TRAPPING FOR BEAVERS. 


169 


thing in them or not could not be gathered 
from his manner. 

He said, in answer to the queries of Dick, 
that sometimes he was lucky and sometimes he 
wasn’t, and that was all that could be got out 
of him. 

But the good fortune was certainly greater 
than either could have anticipated ; for in the 
very first trap visited was a splendid specimen 
of the Castor Canadiensis ! 

When the poor fellow caught sight of his foes, 
he gave utterance to such piteous cries that 
Dick’s heart was stirred with pity, and he was 
on the point of beseeching Sam to let him go, 
when that individual quieted, or, rather, ended 
the matter, by killing the terrified creature. 

The second trap was no more than a hundred 
yards off, and, making their way to this, what 
was their surprise to find that a beaver fully 
as large as the former was awaiting them ! 

By this time Dick was beginning to grow 
hard-hearted, and he never opened his mouth 
while Sam proceeded to end its days forever. 

The third trap yielded nothing, and the 
fourth had been sprung, but the game was not 
there. 


170 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


When the rounds were completed, they 
found they were in the possession of five fine 
specimens, which was certainly far better than 
they were warranted in expecting. 

“I never beat that but twice,’’ said Sam, 
‘‘and that was a good many years ago; I 
thought we would p’raps have one, and mebbe 
two, but had no idea we war goin’ to make 
any such haul as that ’ere.” 

“If we can keep that up ” 

“ We won’t need no more than three or four 
weeks to scoop in enough to let us dig out of 
here ; but thar ain’t no use of lookin’ fur any- 
thing like that. It ain’t apt to rain steady fur 
a month, though we do get a screecher now 
and then.” 

“ Do you have as big pay for furs as you used 
to do?” 

“Bless you, no, nothing like it; if we did, 
I’d be a rich man by this time p’raps.” 

The beavers were carefully dressed, and their 
hides spread to dry in the sun. 

Dick then made the discovery that a portion 
of these same animals afforded a very tooth- 
some article of diet. 

From the tails — the last portion that one 


TRAPPING FOR BEAVERS. 


171 


would have supposed was of any use — the trap 
per cut several pieces, which were cooked, 
much in the usual manner of preparing steaks, 
and Dick declared it to be as fine a breakfast as 
he had ever eaten. 

“Thar be a great many things,” observed 
the old hunter, “which can be turned to ac- 
count in this part of the world. I’ve seen the 
time when a pair of old Injun moccasins war 
looked onto as the only means of keepin’ three 
of us from starvin’ to death.” 

“Sam, what are you going to do during 
these long days that we must spend here!” 

“Wall, I’ve no doubt that you’ll find it 
rather slow sometimes; but, after you’ve been 
in the trappin’ perfession as long as me, you 
won’t mind it much.” 

But, in spite of the novelty of the situa- 
tion, and the excitement of hurrying out 
in the early hours of the morning to learn 
the fortune of the night before, the boy 
found many hours that were inexpressibly 
dreary. 

Black Sam seemed to be carrying out his de- 
termination, as he expressed it, of putting in 
enough sleep to provide against any emergency 


172 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


that might require him to use a week or two 
in keeping watch. 

Besides spending most of the night in slum- 
ber, he frequently slept for hours during the 
day. 

And, while the old trapper was thus em- 
ployed, Dick was generally undergoing the 
miseries of brooding over the loss of his rela- 
tives and friends. 

He sat figuring up the prospective catch of 
beavers, and trying to calculate about when 
they were likely to make their start for Omaha. 

The catch varied very much, as might have 
been anticipated it never reaching the remark- 
able number shown the first morning. 

There were occasions when it looked as if 
they were sure to secure all they could need 
within a single month. 

Then again when several mornings came and 
went without bringing a single fur, the boy 
was in despair, and certain that they would be 
compelled to stay where they were until the 
coming of warm weather in the spring. 

But for the anxiety of his young friend, Sam 
would scarcely have felt these changing for- 
tunes. 


TRAPPING FOR BEAVERS. 


173 


At the end of a week, they were the owners 
of precisely one dozen beaver skins. 

Sam had set down the number that was 
needed at fifty, which afforded enough room 
for “shrinkage.” 

It was not to be expected that the second 
week would be as successful as the first, while, 
as a general rule, there was a steady falling- 
off — so marked, in fact, that a change of quar- 
ters was sometimes rendered necessary. 

As the season advanced, all the indications 
became less favorable for a speedy return to the 
States. 

Before a month had passed, there came a 
tremendous fall of snow, so that when they 
looked out it was seen fully a foot deep on the 
level, and Dick was forced to stay in the house 
while Sam made the round of the traps, com- 
ing back at the end of an hour, just as he had 
done for the three mornings previous, without 
a single trophy of success. 

Following the snow-storm were several weeks 
of weather similar to that near the North Pole. 

The old trapper had made careful prepar- 
ations for just such a “snap” as this, and he 
was not caught napping. 


174 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


As furs and blankets were unequal to keep' 
ing out the cold, the fire was kindled, and with 
its aid they were made quite comfortable. 

Dick could not but see that it would be mad- 
ness to attempt to reach home during the arctic 
weather. 

All that a person could hope to do was to 
keep from freezing to death; and thankful 
might he feel if it were his to own any 
shelter like that of Dick. 

It is scarcely worth while to dwell upon the 
particulars of the winter spent by Dick Stoddard 
with Black Sam in the wilderness of the 
Northwest. 

The weather was of the most fearful severity, 
the trapper himself declaring that, in all his 
experience, he had never seen it surpassed. 

It must have been severe indeed when he cut 
away the ice and sprung the traps, after which 
he did not go near them for several days. 

And then there came a single night — one 
that the veteran could not forget to his dying 
day — when he believed that both would freeze 
to death before morning. 

He wrapped Dick up as warmly as possible, 
and built a fire on either side of him, while he 


TRAPPING FOR BEAVERS. 


175 


devoted himself to attending to them, alterna- 
ting the work with dashing about the cavern, 
swinging his arms, and fighting off- the fatal 
numbness creeping over him. 

He never let Dick know, until long after- 
ward, the awful peril of that one night. Two 
full months passed, during which it was simply 
a fight for life, without a thought of catching 
anything in the way of furs. 

This memorable spell was not only severe, 
but it was long-continued, and it was not until 
well toward spring that they got fairly to work 
again. 

When the old trapper saw the snow disap- 
pear and something like mild weather return, 
he made the tour of his traps, only to find that 
the Sioux had visited them while he and Dick 
were cowering in the cavern, and destroyed 
five. 

Misfortunes rarely come singly, and pursuing 
his investigations further, he made the dis- 
covery that, during the biting weather. Jack, 
the little pony belonging to Dick, had frozen to 
death. 

Screamer, like his master, was made of 
tougher stuff, and had managed to pull 


176 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


through, though he must have had a hard 
time of it. 

Sam did not let his young friend know what 
a calamity had befallen him, as the boy was 
already discouraged over the experience of the 
winter. 

Three traps were nothing like the number 
needed to secure the supplies they had fixed 
upon as their quota, but Sam was hopeful that 
success would crown their labor and patience 
all in good time. 

The proof which he had received that his old 
enemies, the Sioux, were giving him attention 
was another and a more serious matter. 
While Dick Stoddard was his companion, he 
wished to avoid all collisions with the redskins ; 
for the chances were ten to one that the youth 
would be the sufferer. 

As the spring was come, and they could 
travel without difficulty, he held himself in 
readiness to change their quarters at any time 
their safety might seem to demand it. 

While Sam was in this state of doubt, the 
matter was decided, for the present at least, by 
an unexpected run of good luck. 

For an entire week they caught two beavers 


TRAPPING FOR BEAVERS. 




each morning, greatly to the encouragement 
of both. 

The spring was fairly upon our two friends, 
and their supply of peltries was such that, 
although something short of the number origi- 
nally agreed upon, they decided to make a start 
for home, when, a series of incidents befell 
them, of such an extraordinary character that 
we now proceed to give them to our readers. 

12 


CHAPTER XI. 


A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY. 

The spring that succeeded the severe winter 
was all the more beautiful from the contrast. 

Dick Stoddard was standing on the brow of 
a small hill a short distance from the cavern in 
which he had spent so many dreary days, look- 
ing off over the country, all radiant and glo- 
rious under the magic touch of renewing life. 
As he breathed in the pure bracing air, and re- 
called the promise of Black Sam that the start 
was to be made on the morrow, and that there 
was every reason to believe they would be in 
Omaha within a fortnight from that time, his 
spirits rose, and he could scarcely restrain his 
enthusiasm over the prospect. 

A few minutes later. Black Sam, the trapper, 
appeared and called : 

‘‘Do you want to go on a hunt, Dick?” 

“Yes, if there’s any chance of finding any* 
thing. ” 


178 


A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY. 


179 


“Wall, as I war cornin’ over the hill yonder, 
I seen two deer a-croppin’ the tender buds of 
the young trees. I never had a better chance 
to fetch down one of the finest young critters 
that I ever set eyes on, and I was just ’bout to 
do it, when I happened to think of you ; so I 
started down to tell you.” 

“It will suit me exactly,” replied Dick; 
“ where is the spot?” 

The trapper came up alongside the boy, and 
pointed out the place where he had seen the 
game. 

It was some three hundred yards distant, 
near a narrow but deep stream of water, on a 
branch of which the most successful trap of the 
winter had been set. 

It took but a few minutes for the boy to gain 
a correct idea of where he was to look for the 
game, and he set out in quest of the creatures 
which are always so attractive to the hunter. 

While he was thus occupied, Sam himself 
went off to make his last round of the traps. 

It required a longer time for the boy to reach 
the place than he suspected, and when he got 
there, nothing was to be seen of the deer of 
which he was in quest. 


180 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


I suppose they took the alarm and left while 
Sam was on the way to tell me.” 

He stood a minute looking for the animals, 
and failing to detect anything, he made his 
way to a large tree, up which he climbed, so 
as to gain a better view ; but when he reached 
the elevation he was greeted with a scene which 
he little counted upon, and which could not be 
called particularly pleasing. 

Off toward the east, and between him and 
Sam, he saw five Sioux Indians, moving with 
a caution that was proof they were upon a hos- 
tile expedition. 

And what could be their purpose but to in- 
jure the whites? 

Dick was startled, and kept his perch, with 
the object of following their movements; but 
they had gone only a short distance when they 
were hidden from view by intervening rocks 
and trees. 

He waited where he was for some time, in 
the hope of gaining sight of them again ; but 
they did not reappear, and he finally came 
down, with the purpose of making his way 
back to his friend, who had sent him on this 
search for the deer. 


A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY. 


181 


Dick had no more than fairly started, when 
he was not a little scared by hearing the report 
of a gun from the direction of the Sioux in- 
vaders. 

‘‘ I wonder whether that was Sam or one of 
the Indians,” said he, stopping and listening for 
other sounds that might help to clear up the 
mystery ; but none came. 

He did not forget the necessity of taking 
heed to his own footsteps while on the way 
back. 

Following a more circuitous route, he unex- 
pectedly found himself confronted by a brook, 
which he paused to survey, while he calculated 
whether he could leap across. 

He made up his mind that a running jump 
would do it, and he was about to move back 
for the purpose of gaining the start, when his 
attention was arrested by the sight of some ■ 
thing gleaming in the water. 

‘‘What’s that?” he asked himself, as he ap- 
proached ..the stream, to examine the object 
more closely. 

The water wher§ it lay was only a few inches 
deep, and he reached down his hand and drew 
the stone, as it seemed to be, toward him. 


182 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


As he secured it he observed two facts: it 
was of a bright-yellow color, and very heavy. 

Besides, it was about the size of a hen’s egg, 
and was without the slightest stain or blemish. 

“I wonder what that can be?” said Dick to 
himself, as he turned it over in his hand, for- 
getting for the time the danger from the Sioux 
Indians. 

‘‘I declare if it isn’t heavier than lead; I’ll 
bet that its gold he added, in a whisper, as 
if frightened at his own thoughts. “ My gra- 
cious ! if it is, there’s enough money in that one 
lump to make me rich. I must hurry to the 
cavern and hear what Sam has to say about it.” 

With the precious nugget in his possession, 
he started off, when he recalled the Indians 
that had startled him but a short time before. 

“ I wonder what has become of them? if they 
have killed Sam, it will be an awful thing, and 
I don’t know what will become of me. Sam 
couldn’t have thought there were any of them 
about, or he wouldn’t have sent me off after 
the deer, which I didn’t find.” 

Leaping across the brook, Dick continued on 
his way, watching and listening at every step. 

He heard and saw nothing suspicious, and 


A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY. 


183 


in a comparatively short time found himself 
near the spot where he had seen the Indians. 

Here he paused to decide what was best to 
do. Still failing to discover anything alarm- 
ing, he resumed his cautious approach to the 
cavern. 

This was also near at hand, and his joy was 
unbounded when, a moment later, he was 
greeted with the sight of his old friend, the 
trapper, who, however, looked exasperated 
about something that had occurred very re- 
cently. 

“ Oh, Sam !” called out the boy, as he rushed 
toward him, ‘^have you seen anything of the 
Indians?” 

The trapper raised his hand as a sign that he 
was speaking too loud. 

“ Yas, they’ve been here, and if you’ll ’low 
me, they’ve raised the partickler devil.” 

‘^What do you mean?” asked the amazed 
Dick. 

“J mean that they’ve took every hanged 
skin that war in the old place; and if you’d 
been thar they’d took your skin, too.” 

“ Where were you when all this was going 
on?” 


184 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


“Jest near ’nough to look on and enjoy it,” 
replied the trapper, with a grim humor. 

“Wasn’t there any way of stopping them?” 

Sam shook his head. 

“Thar war too many; though, if you hadn’t 
been along, I’d rattled ’em ’round purty lively 
fur awhile, anyway, and so I had to stand by 
and see ’em walk off with our whole winter’s 
work.” 

“I heard the sound of a gun, Sam, anJ. 
I was dreadfully scared, thinking it was you 
that was shot.” 

“And, instead of that, it war my old gun 
that war shot,” said the trapper, seeming dis- 
posed to joke himself at the bad luck that had 
befallen him. 

“Did you hit any of them?” 

“ I kinder think so, on account of the reason 
that ’bout the time I pulled the trigger I heerd 
something very much like a yell, and I obsarved 
a painted Sioux ’bout the same time of day 
throw up his arms and dance his death waltz.” 

“ But where were they, that they didn’t come 
back after you?” 

“ They war goin’ t’other way ; and the reason 
fur thar doin’ that sort of work war this: 


A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY. 


185 


when I fired my gun, I war layin’ as close to 
the cave thar as I could get; and the fools 
thought I war drawin’ a bead onto ’em from 
the inside, and they knowed thar war no use of 
them try in’ to get thar work back onto me, so 
they vamoosed the ranche as fast as they 
knowed how; and here we are again, throwed 
right onto our backs, with the meanest kind of 
show.” 

“How will we have to work, Sam, to get 
enough money to see us through?” asked Dick, 
intending to keep his discovery from his good 
friend for a few minutes. 

“The furs will be good fur two or three 
months yet, and if we wait that long, we’ll 
stand a chance of scoopin’ ’nough to help, but 
I don’t s’pose you want to wait that long; and 
I reckon the best thing that we kin do is to 
make a start for Omaha. We’ll be able to 
travel all the better without our peltries.” 

“ Here is something that I picked up on the 
way here.” 

As he spoke, he reached out the heavy lump 
of which we have spoken. 

Black Sam took the nugget in his hand, feel- 
ing no particular interest in it until he gained 


186 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


one good look. Then Dick noticed that he 
started and stared at the object as though it 
was some valuable keepsake that had just been 
brought to light. 

Then he carefully weighed it in his hand. 
This occupied but a few seconds, when he 
looked sharply at the boy and demanded : 

Whar did you git that!” 

‘‘I found it a little way from here, in a 
brook.” 

“Do you know what it is?” 

“I hope it is gold.” 

“And that’s just what it is, Dick; and, more 
than that, it’s worth double the furs that it 
took us all the winter to catch. Do you hear 
that?” 

It was very rarely indeed that the trapper al- 
lowed himself to become excited. We have 
shown how, in situations that were of the most 
trying nature, he always kept his nerves under 
iron-like control, but, like the bravest men, 
there were occasions lying in wait for him when 
he could no longer be his own master. The 
sudden discovery that he was wealthy — for 
such he deemed both to be — completely upset 
the old fellow. 


A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY. 


187 


‘‘Did you hear what I said, Dick?” he de- 
manded, in quite a loud voice, as he rose to his 
feet. 

“ Of course I heard you, and I’m glad enough 
to know it.” 

“Wall, then, why don’t you slam around?” 

And without waiting for the answer, he set 
the example. 

The first movement in that direction appeared 
in the sudden execution of a double shuffle, 
in which he kept up the motion of his large 
feet. 

When that sort of exercise exhausted him, 
he wound up the performance by flinging his 
coonskin cap high in air, and making a tre- 
mendous bound upward, accompanied by a yell 
that might have been heard half a mile away. 

It was a curious illustration of human nature 
that, while the boy was as cool as a cucumber, 
the man old enough to be his grandfather was 
as wild as a lad just let out of school. 

“Ain’t you afraid that you’ll bring the In- 
dians back here?” asked Dick, who could not 
forget the danger that they had so recently 
escaped. 

“Let ’em come,” was the contemptuous re- 


188 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


sponse of the trapper, who, just then, let out 
another shout louder than before. ‘‘Ef you 
knowed how much easier it is to spend money 
than to make it, you’d dance ’round and make 
a fool of yourself the same as me.” 

‘‘Mebhe I’ll feel like it after a while,” said 
Dick, thinking that perhaps he was guilty in 
not exhibiting the boisterous enthusiasm of his 
friend. ‘‘But you aren’t any gladder than I 
am.” 

“ Did you look and see ef thar’s any more of 
that kind of trash a-layin’ round loose?” asked 
Sam, managing to remain quiet a moment. 

“ I was in such a hurry to get home to you 
that I didn’t stop to look for any more.” 

“Wall, I jest bet that thar’s some more of 
that kind of stuff whar that come from.” 

All at once the old fellow became thoughtful, 
every trace of his excitement vanishing as if by 
magic. 

He bent his head and looked down to the 
ground for a full minute, like one who is seek- 
ing to recall some half-forgotten incident. 

It was all clear in a moment. 

He raised his head in his quick way, and 
said: 


A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY. 


189 


“ Dick, do you know that I have been sartin 
for a half-dozen years that thar war gold 
’mong the Black Hills?” 

^‘How should I know it?” was the sensible 
question in return. 

‘'Sure enough, I didn’t think of that. The 
reason that I thought so war ’cause it was just 
six years ago that me and Jake Daggett war 
up in the Hills searching for beaver and otter- 
skins, and we had powerful poor luck. But 
one day, Jake he left me, and I s’posed that 
it war on ’count of his getting disgusted ’cause 
we didn’t cotch more of the critters that we 
started arter. But when I met him down in St. 
Louey, two months arter, I seen that he had 
plenty money. But I s’posed he’d got it some 
other way than the true way. Wall, I never 
smelt a mice till next winter, when I met Jake 
and two other fellers on thar way to the Hills. 
When I axed ’em whar they war goin, ’ they 
said to some new beaver-runs that they had 
heard tell of, and they give me to understand 
so plain that they didn’t want any company, 
that I didn’t stay with ’em. But I had my 
’spicions up, and I sort of kept ’em under my 
eye fur a while. They war too smart to ’low 


190 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


themselves to be caught, and they give me the 
slip, and I didn’t see nothing of ’em fur three 
months, when I met ’em in Omaha agin. 
Wall, Dick, they had piles of money, and I 
knowed whar they must have got it When I 
thought about gold, I minded, too, that I had 
heard stories of its being found among these 
mountains years ago. Of course, it war power- 
ful mean in Jake giving me the slip as he did, 
but ef the gold war thar, I had the same chance 
to hunt it up as he did, and I set to work. 
Wal, Dick, I spent week after week, pokin’ and 
pry in’ inter all the places whar it seemed to me 
it was possible the blamed stuff could grow. 
But it was no use; I couldn’t cotch sight of 
the first speck of it, and I give it up.” 

“Did you ever think you had made a mistake 
about it!” 

“Never. I knowed the gold war thar, 
though I couldn’t set my eyes onto it, and 
every once in a while I’d hear something about 
it that would set me off agin, till I found I war 
neglecting my perfession, and I warn’t going 
to make enough to buy me powder and lead. 
So I swore off, and went at honest work agin. 
Thar have been stories for years and years 


A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY. 


191 


’bout gold bein’ in these parts, and whar you 
hear so much you can make up your mind that 
something is thar.” 

“ It may be, Sam, that the piece that I picked 
up has been dropped by somebody else, and there 
isn’t any more near it.” 

“That may be,” replied the trapper thought- 
fully. “But, anyway, we’ve got more than 
the whole winter’s work in trappin’ that war 
stole back agin, and that’s enough to feel jolly 
over. But come, let’s go and find out how it is. ” 

The trapper seemed to have entirely recovered 
from his temporary enthusiasm, and as they 
walked thoughtfully along, he was the same 
sly, watchful hunter that had gone through 
so many perilous adventures of every sort. 

He acted with as much caution as if certain 
that a half-dozen redskins were prowling in the 
vicinity. 

But his supposition regarding the Sioux that 
had stolen the peltries seemed to be correct, for 
the most careful reconnoissances failed to 
discover the least traces of them. 

“Go ahead, Dick,” said Sam, “and be sure 
that you don’t miss the spot, ’cause a good 
deal depends on it,” 


192 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


Dick had impressed the locality so fixedly in 
his mind, that he had little difficulty in mak- 
ing his way to the place. 

“ Here we are, ” said he, as they paused where 
he leaped the brook; “right there is where I 
picked up the gold.” 

“Show me the precise spot.” 

There was no trouble in doing this, Dick 
being able to point out the very indentation 
made by the precious deposit. 

After he had done this, the two stood for 
several minutes looking up and down, as far 
as the eye could reach, in quest of other nug- 
gets. 

But they did not seem to be lying around 
loose, for nothing of the kind greeted the eye. 

“I guess I found all there was,” said the 
boy. 

“It may be,” replied Sam, “but thar ain’t 
any sartainty^’bout it, ’cause gold don’t grow 
like other crops.” 

Failing to detect anything by standing on 
the shore, the trapper now procured a large 
stick, with which he carefully stirred over the 
bottom of the brook. 

There were numerous pebbles and stones of 


A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY. 


193 


all sizes, but none of the beauteous yellow 
color that had so charmed his eyes a while 
before. Gravel, sand, and mud were all that 
were encountered. 

Dick was ready to give up, but not so Sam. 
He had lived long enough to understand the 
value of gold too well to allow any chance like 
the present to pass unimproved. 

‘‘Now, Dick, you go down stream, and I’ll 
go said the trapper, “and don’t be in a 
hurry ’bout it neither; I think thar’s a good 
chance to scare up more of the stuff.” 

The boy was glad enough to assist in a search 
of this kind, and he started down stream as 
directed, while his friend moved up the cur- 
rent. 

It was agreed that whoever made the first 
discovery should signal to the other by a low 
whistle. 

They had not been separated ten minutes 
when the trapper was set all agog by hearing 
the call of the lad. 

“Gracious!” he exclaimed. “I wonder 
whether that boy has picked up a lump the 
size of a punkin this time.” 

A few seconds were all that were required to 
13 


194 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


reach his young friend, who was excited over 
something. 

“Wall, Dick, what is it?” asked the trapper, 
managing to conceal his own agitation. 

“I think it’s gold again,” was the electric 
answer. 

He explained that he was searching as 
directed, when his eye was caught by the same 
sort of glitter that had arrested his notice on 
the other occasion, and he saw a yellow lump 
on the corner of the large rock near them. 

He stooped to pick it up, when he found that 
it was a part of the rock itself. 

By this time the trapper had gained an idea 
of how the “land lay,” and was attentively ex- 
amining the mass of stone, which was large 
enough to weigh some eight or ten tons, and 
rested on the shore of the stream, a portion 
being in the water and a portion imbedded in 
the ground. 

The result was wonderful. 

A piece being chipped off, the stone was seen 
to be simply ore of the richest character, glit- 
tering and gleaming with the most valuable of 
minerals, gold ! 


CHAPTER XII. 

GOOD AND BAD FORTUNE. 

It would be impossible to describe Black 
Sam’s excitement at the wonderful discovery 
that thousand of dollars in gold were before 
them. 

His dances, his shouts, his wild cavortings, 
and his crazed conduct, must be left to the 
reader’s imagination. 

But they were so characteristic of the man, 
that there was something contagious in them, 
and before the boy was aware of it he was ex- 
cited in a similar manner. 

After a time, however, they recovered their 
self-possession, and looked upon the business 
more like rational beings. 

There was a fortune before them, and the 
question was how to take possession of it. 

In the first place, they had no proper tools 
with which to get out the precious metal. 

The ore being solid, they required a pick of 
195 


196 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


some kind. Sam could think of no place where 
one could be procured short of Omaha, or one 
of the forts. 

don’t know but that we can break up our 
traps and make something that will do,” said 
Sam. ‘^But thar ain’t nothin’ like them ’ere 
things that are made on purpose.” 

“Can’t we do enough to make us pretty well 
off,” asked Dick, “and then come back here 
afterward and take away all the rest?” 

“I s’pose we might, but a feller hates to 
leave such a pile as that when he once gets his 
eye onto it. He wouldn’t feel very gay if he 
should come back, after a month or so, and find 
that some one had slipped down here and toted 
the whole thing off.” 

With the help of his hunting-knife, the trap- 
per chipped off some of the rock, and it was 
found to be of the richest nature. 

If, indeed, the whole mass should hold out 
as did the first specimens, then, beyond all 
question, there were “millions in it.” 

This was hardly to he expected. 

When they came to chip it in other places, 
they learned that a good portion of the mass of 
stone was without a particle of gold at all, 


GOOD AND BAD J’ORTUNE. 197 

There was nothing to cause discouragement 
in this fact, for, after making the most liberal 
allowance, there must remain enough to make 
both far wealthier than they had ever dreamed 
of becoming. 

It was characteristic of the trapper that in 
all their conversation, from the first discovery 
of the good fortune, he spoke in such a way as 
to show that he meant the boy to become a 
partner with him. 

It was finally agreed that they should chip 
off the most valuable portion they could, to 
such an extent as to provide a good load for the 
horse, and yet not attract the suspicion of any 
of the acquaintances Sara would be sure to 
meet as soon as he should get out of the wilder- 
ness and into a civilized country. 

It was believed that, with the rude imple- 
ments at their service, they would be able to 
do this in the course of three or four days. 

Sam felt some uneasiness over the recent 
visit of the Sioux. 

They were, he knew, very jealous of any in- 
trusion upon their domain, especially when 
there was reason to believe that the errand 
was gold, 


198 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


The Indians, too, appeared to have an in* 
stinctive knowledge of where the gold lay. 

The trapper spent a full hour in ‘‘prospect- 
ing” the rock, by which time he had gained a 
pretty fair idea of its composition. 

There was a corner which was as rich as it 
could be, some portions appearing to be almost 
clear metal. 

This was quite soft, so that it was cut with 
the knife without much diflSculty. 

Had Sam possessed a good supply of well- 
tempered hunting-knives, he would have got 
out all the precious stuff without the aid of 
other implements; but that was hardly pos- 
sible, and the conclusion mentioned was 
reached. 

After the examination of the rock, Sam told 
Dick to stay where he was, while he went to 
an elevation to look for signs of Indians. 

In a small valley, no more than a half-mile 
distant, a large camp-fire was burning. 

He not only saw the smoke, but he caught 
the gleam of the flame itself. He counted 
eight Sioux in war-paint. Their ponies were 
cropping the grass near by. Sam knew they 
were not the redskins that had appropriated his 


GOOD AND BAD FORTUNE. 


199 


peltries, but, as they belonged to the same 
tribe, it was reasonable to suppose that they 
would soon communicate with each other, if 
they had not already done so. 

“ Where are them other varmints?” he asked 
himself, as he looked around for signs of them 
also. 

It did not take long to discover the unwel- 
come visitors. 

They were halted in a spot similar to the one 
containing the camp of the eight Sioux; but 
there was no fire under way, and, so far as he 
could judge, they were about to start off again. 

The question now became whether the two 
parties would discover each other and unite. 

The probabilities were altogether in favor of 
their doing so. 

The fact that they were now separated by 
quite an elevated ridge did not conceal the 
smoke of the camp-fire of one party from the 
other. 

“They’ll come together, that’s sartin,” said 
Sam, after he had surveyed the two for a few 
minutes. “Thar!” he added, a moment later, 
“they’re ’bout to jine now.” 

There could be no doubt of that, as the party 


200 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


that had last attracted his notice started in a 
direct line for the camp. 

They had gone but a short distance when 
three of their number gave utterance to a 
series of whoops and signals to the other 
party. Sam hardly heard them, when he 
caught the answers, emitted in precisely the 
same manner. 

“In a few more minutes,” growled Sam, 
“the varmints will be together, hatchin’ the 
worst kind of deviltry.” The first part of his 
prediction was fulfilled to the letter, and there 
can be little doubt that the second was also. 

His visitors moved directly toward the ridge, 
passed over, and never stopped till the two 
came together. 

The united redskins seemed to hold a council 
of war, which lasted two hours. 

During all this time Black Sam scarcely re- 
moved his eyes from them. 

The whole company of Sioux then started off 
in a northern direction. 

“That’s purty good,” muttered the trapper, 
still watching their movements. “If they’ll 
only keep that up for a day or two, it’ll be the 
thing; but I’m afraid it won’t last.” 


GOOD AND BAD FORTUNE. 201 

However, the entire party at last disappeared 
to the northward, and, so far as the eye told, 
Sam and Dick were left to themselves in the 
great wilderness. 

It was now full noon, and the trapper re- 
turned to the brook where he had left the boy 
still chipping away. 

He was not a little surprised to find that he 
had dislodged three or four handfuls, all of 
which glistened and glittered with the precious 
stuff. 

“Ain’t it gay!” exclaimed the trapper, as he 
caught sight of the results of the labor. “I 
don’t know how much we’ve got, but it must 
he somewhere up ’mong the thousands.” 

“What!” exclaimed Dick, whose views of 
the business were very vague; “I didn’t think 
it could he more than a hundred.” 

“Gracious, don’t you know that gold is 
worth sumthin’?” 

“If we have so much, why, let’s go home.” 

The trapper shook his head. 

“We’ll have to leave a good deal as it is; 
but you know what the plan was that we fixed 
on; we’re to carry all that can be done handy, 
and then come back and take the rest.” 


202 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


As Dick made no mention of dinner, Sam 
concluded to omit that part of the day’s pro- 
ceedings. 

The trapper had brought in a couple of his 
traps, and with the separated portion he found 
he was able to construct an implement that was 
very convenient in getting out the gold, the 
only drawback being that it was deficient in 
hardness, and that, as a consequence, it soon 
gave out. 

As the sun went down, Sam was in the high- 
est possible spirits, for they had reaped a golden 
harvest indeed. 

The ore taken was stowed into a bag made 
by binding together portions of a buffalo robe, 
cut in the right shape ; this was covered in such 
a way that it could be placed upon the back of 
the horse and carried anywhere without attract- 
ing attention. 

The fact that they had but one horse was a 
great inconvenience in every respect. When 
Dick expressed his misgivings Sam replied : 

“Don’t worry; when we’re ready to start, 
thar’ll be a boss for you, and we’ll go boomin’ 
back home in as good style as we come ; you 
can make up your mind to that.” 


GOOD AND BAD FORTUNE. 203 

Black Sam did not choose to tell how he 
meant to accomplish this, but Dick suspected 
that he intended to draw upon the supplies of 
the Sioux, some of whom were always near 
enough to be reached by a forced march of a 
day or two. 

Dinner having been omitted, it was deemed 
best not to leave out the supper. 

Accordingly, Sam took a few minutes with 
the line, and brought back enough fish to fur- 
nish both with a substantial meal. 

This done, the trapper lit his pipe and 
stretched out in the front part of the cavern, 
as if to sleep. 

But it was a long time before slumber came 
to the wearied hunter. 

“I was happy a while ago,’’ he muttered, 
giving expression to some of his imaginings, 
“but I don’t feel so now, and I’d like to 
know the reason. I’ve got more gold than 
I ever dreamed ’bout, and thar ain’t no reason 
why I shouldn’t get it all safe inter Omaha; 
but that don’t make me feel as good as I 
orter. I’m ’feered,” continued the trapper, 
with a deep sigh, “that sumthin’ awful is 
cornin’ down onto us, for it never fails to do 


204 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


that thing when that sort of feelin’ comes over 
me.” 

In a few minutes, the soft breathing of the 
boy showed that he was sleeping soundly. 

The trapper turned, and looked back in the 
cavern, where the darkness was so deep that 
nothing at all could be distinguished. 

‘‘Sleep on, Dick,” he muttered, in a low, 
sympathetic voice, “for I’ve an idea thar ain’t 
many more such nights cornin’ to us; mehbe 
I’m mistook, and I hope that I am ; but I can’t 
shake off the notion that some of the worst 
kind of trouble ain’t fur off.” 

When his pipe was out, he filled it again, 
and as he felt no inclination to sleep, he came 
forth from the cavern and stood in the dark- 
ness of the outside. 

The night was calm and still. There was a 
new moon overhead, and in accordance with an 
old superstition, he shuddered as he observed 
that he saw it over his left shoulder. 

“That’s another bad sign,” he growled; 
“everything to-night is out of kilter; I never 
had such bad feelings that sumthin’ didn’t 
come out of it.” 

Making his way to the top of the hill that 


GOOD AND BAD FORTUNE. 205 

he had been accustomed to use as a post of ob- 
servation, he looked oif over the darkened 
landscape. 

But the night was unrelieved in every direc- 
tion by any starlike twinkle of a camp-fire, and 
scarcely a sound reached his ear except that 
solemn murmur which has been defined as the 
voice of silence itself. 

Faintly and dimly from the distance came 
the soft, almost inaudible roar of the water, 
where it was fretted by the friction against the 
stones and rocks in the channel, but even this 
seemed a part of the great overwhelming reign 
of solitude and silence. ‘^Mebbe it’s ’cause 
I’ve been so set up by the sight of the gold that 
I’m so set down now,” he added, dropping into 
a sort of rude philosophy; “but I’ll try and be 
ready fur whatsoever may come.” 

Once more he made his way back to the 
cavern, saying: 

“I don’t see the use of stayin’ out here, and 
I don’t b’lieve thar’s much use of my goin’ to 
bed; but that’s just what I’m goin’ to do.” 

And, acting upon his resolution, he shook the 
ashes from his pipe and walked into the cavern 
and lay down. 


206 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


Screamer, his faithful horse, was stationed 
but a short distance away, and, as was the 
trapper’s custom, he relied almost altogether 
ipon his intelligent vigilance to apprise him of 
the approach of danger. 

It was a long time before Black Sam could 
shake off the heaviness of spirits sufficiently to 
sink into slumber, but he succeeded at last. 

Dick Stoddard was the first to awake. 

The instant he was able to gather his senses, 
he called to Sam, who started up like one 
ashamed of his remissness. 

‘‘Come, Sam, we must get a few more mih 
lions and then start for home, as soon as you 
can buy me a horse; but I’m hungry — aren’t 
you?” 

“Wall, as I’m ginerally that way, I may 
say that I am; what shall it be? Can you fish 
agin?” 

“Certainly.” 

“That bein’ so. I’ll let you do the catchin’.” 

“All right; where’s the line?” 

A few minutes later, Dick took his departure, 
singing to himself; for he was in the highest 
possible spirits at the prospect of so soon start- 
ing eastward. 


GOOD AND BAD FORTUNE. 


207 


He was happy over the consciousness of the 
wealth in their possession, more because it 
made Sam so delighted than on his own ac- 
count; for he was too young to have anything 
like a realizing sense of the value of the good 
fortune that had befallen them. 

He had become so familiar with the surround- 
ings of the cavern that he knew just where to 
go to find the fish ; leaving him to his task, it 
becomes our duty to follow Black Sam, the 
trapper. 

The few hours’ rest that Sam had secured in 
the later part of the night had helped in a 
great measure to throw off his depression. 

His purpose was to make a visit to the rock, 
which was scarcely absent from his waking and 
sleeping thoughts. 

He found it just as he had left it, gleaming 
and glittering with the very essence of richness 
itself. 

‘‘While the boy is cotchin’ fish,” he said, “I 
may as well cotch a few of these nuggens, first 
takin’ a look ’round to see ef thar’s any of the 
varmints pokin’ thar noses into this business.” 

He visited his usual lookout stations, and 
made his reconnoissance as thorough as pos- 


208 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


sible. “I don’t see nothin’ of ’ena,” he said to 
himself, as he turned to retrace his steps to the 
golden rock. 

In a few minutes, he had succeeded in dis- 
placing a much larger quantity than he had 
been able to do in double the time the day 
before. 

When he thought it was about time for the 
return of the boy, he ceased labor, to make his 
way back to the cavern. 

At this moment his quick ear caught the 
sound of a whistle, a signal that he knew on 
the instant was made by an Indian, and in- 
tended for the ear of another redskin. 

“The varmints have come,” he muttered, as 
he snatched up his rifle and started to the 
cavern. 

He moved rapidly, for his instinct told him 
that the danger was serious. 

The call was immediately in his front, and he 
had hardly started when the answer came from 
the opposite direction, directly between him 
and cavern. 

This was worse and worse, and the trapper 
instantly turned to the right with the view of 
passing between the two and flanking them. 


GOOD AND BAD FORTUNE. 


209 


Before he could take three of his quick steps, 
he was apprised in the same manner that an 
enemy was also there. 

One way yet remained untried, and without 
as instant’s halt, he wheeled and tried it, only 
to discover at once that that was as effectually 
guarded as the others. 

“I’m in for it,” he muttered, as he com- 
pressed his lips and started on a straight run 
for the cavern, knowing that he was certain 
to come in collision with one of his deadly 
enemies. 

He was only fairly under way when he saw, 
not one, but three Sioux warriors leap up from 
the ground, in the attempt to shut off his re- 
turn to his retreat. 

But the trapper never halted nor turned; 
straight forward he sped, like a deer, and, 
when the nearest Indian threw himself directly 
in his path, the fugitive raised his rifle like a 
flash and shot him on the run. 

It was the only thing to do, though the con- 
sequences were inevitable. 

The instant the other Sioux saw their com- 
rade fall, the two fired. 

Sam dodged and jumped from side to side, to 
14 


210 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


distract their aim, but the distance was too 
short, though the aim of both was hurried. 

Black Sam was struck by both bullets and 
badly wounded. 

But with the amazing vitality of which he 
was the possessor, he suppressed all outcry, 
and continued his desperate flight for the cav- 
ern, well knowing that his only salvation was 
in reaching it. 


CHAPTEE XIII. 


FIGHTING FOR LIFE. 

Wounded as the trapper was, it was a feat 
of wonderful endurance on his part, in main- 
taining his uprightness of body, to say nothing 
of his speed, which was rather increased than 
diminished. 

The trapper had his loaded revolver still left, 
and he knew how to use it as well as he did his 
rifle. 

If the Sioux held any doubt on that point, it 
was very speedily removed by what took place 
within the next few seconds. 

The nigher of the two hostiles, more pre- 
sumptuous than his companion, sprang directly 
across the path of the fugitive, with the appar- 
ent purpose of compelling him to halt. 

But Sam chose not to pause in his tremendous 
speed; with a cry of defiance, he pointed his 
pistol straight at the face of the redskin, and 
gave him two of the chambers before he knew 
what was coming. 

^IX 


212 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


The distance separating them was slight, and 
a screech of sharp pain, as the Sioux halted and 
staggered backward, proved that the weapon 
had done its work well. 

At this moment, the third Indian was 
scarcely a rod distant, and Sam turned with 
the intention of settling his case in the same 
summary manner as that of the other two; but 
the fellow had seen enough to convince him 
that the best thing he could do was to vanish 
with as little delay as possible, and he stood 
not on the order of his going, but went at once. 

Ducking his head, as if he saw the deadly 
missile coming for him, he wheeled with ex- 
traordinary quickness, and was off like a deer. 

By way of a reminder of his intentions, the 
trapper fired two shots at the dodging redskin, 
who, if wounded, was able to conceal all evi- 
dence of it, and to continue his flight with race- 
horse speed. 

If these three Sioux had been the only ones 
with which Black Sam was forced to contend, 
he would have fought his way through very 
well indeed; but, unfortunately, there were 
others, and they speedily appeared. 

Sam hadn’t time to count them; for his sole 


FIGHTING FOR LIFE. 


213 


object was to reach the cavern, where he hoped 
to have some chance to defend himself against 
the bloodthirsty hostiles. 

He had two barrels of his revolver undis- 
charged, but it was no time now to use them. 

The Sioux had still a chance of cutting off his 
escape to the cavern, but despite the great pro- 
vocation he had given them, they refrained 
from doing so, their purpose being to visit a 
greater and more refined torture upon him. 

The distance to the retreat was comparative- 
ly slight; but it seemed interminable to Sam, 
even when running with his great speed. 

There was really little ‘difference between 
the swiftness of pursuers and pursued, but, 
whatever it was, was in favor of the latter, 
who had every incentive to exert himself to the 
utmost. 

The fugitive felt something like a renewal of 
strength when he caught sight of the open en- 
trance to the cavern, and knew that the whole 
thing would be decided in the next half-dozen 
seconds. 

At this moment there were eight or ten In- 
dians in pursuit of the trapper, who was cer- 
tainly less than a hundred yards in advance. 


214 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


They did not fire, though he expected every 
instant to hear the crack of their rifles, and to 
feel the fatal pang that must bring him to the 
earth. 

Fully two-thirds of the distance was passed 
over, whan a gun was fired, and the fugitive 
distinctly felt the bullet graze the side of his 
face. 

The report was still in his ears, when two 
other rifles were discharged in rapid succession. 

But if the fates had been cruel to the trapper 
heretofore, they were now more lenient, and 
the missiles went wide of their mark. 

It is do or die !” muttered the sorely-pressed 
fugitive, as he made strides which can be 
likened to nothing but the tremendous leaps 
of the kangaroo. 

By this time the Sioux could not help seeing 
that the only possible way of preventing their 
prey from reaching the cavern was to shoot 
him down. 

The shots came like hailstones, and, as if 
they expected to paralyze him with terror, they 
gave utterance to their frightful yells. 

They did not diminish his speed in the least, 
and they failed to increase it. 


FIGHTING FOR LIFE. 


215 


Sam was going at a rate which he himself 
could not sustain for five minutes, even with 
his life at stake. 

Bang, hang, bang ! went the guns. 

Whoop, yell, screech, went the throats of the 
maddened Sioux. 

But in spite of their most desperate efforts to 
bring him down, he reached the goal. 

As he saw the opening before him, he stooped, 
without decreasing his speed, and in he plunged, 
like a diver going into the water. 

He was greeted with a scattering volley as 
he vanished. 

But his good fortune did not desert him now, 
and he went under cover almost unscathed. 

The instant he knew the solid wall of rock 
was between him and his enemies, he dropped 
upon his knees, and began reloading his gun 
with the most astonishing rapidity — a rapidity 
acquired by long years of practice and the 
deadly necessity of the case. 

“Now, come in who dare!” he growled 
between his set teeth, as he shoved the rifle 
forward, ready to receive his visitors. 

Whether they heard the challenge or not, 
they virtually accepted it. 


216 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


The long, gleaming barrel was scarcely 
thrust forward, when a painted warrior ap- 
peared at the entrance. 

Stooping, he attempted to follow the lion to 
his lair. 

He had no sooner shown himself, than the 
front of the cavern was filled with the smoke 
of the weapon, and the report and death-yell 
mingled together. 

The Indian was instantly seized by the legs, 
and drawn back by one of his comrades. 

Any one would have supposed that such a re- 
ception would check the pursuers most effect- 
ually. 

But the Sioux resolved to rush in and over- 
whelm him before he could reload. 

One important matter, however, slipped 
their recollection, and that was that he had 
still a couple of bullets left in his revolver. 

They were soon reminded of their forgetful- 
ness by the crack of the weapon almost in their 
faces, the ball taking effect, and promptly 
checking their advance. 

‘'They’ll soon be here again,” was the con- 
clusion of Sam, as he began reloading his 
piece. 


FIGHTING FOR LIFE. 


217 


He thus gained time to prepare his rifle and 
fill the empty chambers of his revolver. 

Though listening carefully, he v^as unable to 
hear the slightest noise that indicated the pres- 
ence of the redskins outside. 

But he was not thrown off his guard by this 
tomb-like silence. 

His next proceeding was to roll over a huge 
stone lying at the mouth of the cavern, to 
prevent ingress of any one. 

This large stone he had kept in place for 
years, so as to use in an emergency like the 
present. 

More than once it had served the purpose of 
keeping out the bullets of the red rovers of 
the wilderness, whose leaden missiles rattled 
against it like rain. 

The boulder was so poised that no great 
strength was required to place it in position. 

But at the moment of doing so the hunter 
was reminded of his wounds by a stinging pain, 
so severe as to force an exclamation from him. 

Still, he gave it no further attention, until the 
passing of several minutes in perfect silence 
convinced him that he was likely to have some 
time to himself. 


218 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


“I reckon that I’d better dig in around these 
’ere roots,” he muttered, as he proceeded to 
ascertain the extent of his hurts. 

It looked as if they were of a serious charac- 
ter, one being in the side and the other in the 
thigh. 

In the former, the bullet had passed clean 
through and gone. 

But, beyond question, the ball was still in 
the thigh, and the trapper could see no way of 
extracting it. 

That’s the ticket that’s going to make some 
trouble,” he said to himself, after making a 
thorough examination. Thar’s a little pill in 
thar that ain’t going to be in a hurry to come 
out, and I won’t be able to dance the Virginny 
break-down in my usual style as long as it’s 
with me.” 

His present duty was to keep his enemies off 
till night, when he might hope for some chance 
to give them the slip. 

His thoughts next turned to Dick Stoddard. 

He could not but feel that the situation was 
disheartening in the extreme. 

“ The chap has heerd the guns and the yells, 
and ef thar’s anybody within a dozen miles, 


FIGHTING FOR LIFE. 


219 


they’ve heerd ’em, too, for they let ’em out 
in thar best style. That boy is mighty smart. 
When he heerd them yells and the shootin’, 
he’s knowed what they all meant; tharfore, 
what did he do? That’s what I’d like to know. ” 

The trapper had been with Dick long enough 
to have great faith in his sagacity. 

He believed that if there was any way pos- 
sible for him to get out of the difficulty, he was 
the one to do it; but the trouble was that he 
could see very little ^^show” for him. 

“He can keep himself hid for a time,” he 
said, as he thought the thing over, “but I 
can’t see that it can do him any good; for he’s 
got ter get out and move round, as he can’t 
stay thar forever, and when he does come out, 
what’s he to do? If he had a boss, thar might 
be a little chance, but he hain’t got that even 
— so he’s in a tight fix any way.” 

Sam at last reached the conclusion that Dick 
was certain to fall into the hands of the hos- 
tiles, while as to himself, the chance was that 
he must succumb to the exhaustion of his 
wounds, unless he should secure assistance very 
speedily, and there was little prospect of that. 

He would have been glad to give up all the 


220 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


gold and more, too, if thereby he could assist 
the boy ; hut this was out of the question. 

All that the trapper could do was to wait 
for night, and in the mean time hold off his 
enemies. 

So long as he remained quiet he was scarcel;;? 
conscious of pain ; but when he moved, the suf- 
fering was intense. 

“It wouldn’t do for me to run another race 
with the varmints, for I’d kerflop at the first 
step.” 

Noon came and passed, and still he saw and 
heard nothing of the Sioux, though he was 
certain they were near at hand. 

The afternoon was about half gone, when a 
slight noise at the opening set his nerves jump- 
ing. 

“The varmints are thar,” he whispered, as 
he crept a few feet forward, so as to listen. 

The sound which reached the ears of the 
fugitive was such as is made by a body moving 
over the ground with extreme caution. 

Black Sam believed that it was the noise of 
an Indian crawling stealthily toward the cav- 
ern; and he was willing to meet his visitor 
half-way. 


FIGHTING FOR LIFE. 


221 


It may have been that the Sioux was as 
quick-eared as the white man; for the latter 
had scarcely begun his advance, when the noise 
of the redskin’s approach ceased. 

Both suspected the other, and, like a couple 
of trained pugilists, each waited for his enemy 
to “lead off.” But Black Sam could not be 
drawn into exposing himself to a shot from the 
outside. There could he no doubt that the red- 
skins had kept the mouth of the cavern covered 
with their rifles ever since he had plunged into 
it; and the instant he showed his head, he 
would catch it from a dozen different direc- 
tions. 

There could exist no stronger reason, there- 
fore, for keeping his head out of sight so long 
as this state of things lasted, which is precisely 
what the trapper did. 

As he expected to have his hands more 
than full, he made what preparation he could 
for it. 

First, he forced himself to eat a goodly meal 
of the pemmican. 

He suffered not a little from thirst, his 
wounds causing him some fever; and, though 
he ran considerable risk, he stealthily left his 


222 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


post, and helped himself to a good draught of 
water from the little stream. 

As his thirst increased, he did the same thing 
two or three times during the afternoon. 

The iron will of the old hunter enabled him 
to keep down a growing weakness that would 
have forced an ordinary man to succumb. 

He had already laid his plans, and was only 
waiting for night to carry them into execution. 

At such a time the hours pass slowly, and it 
was weariness indeed before the day ended; 
but it expired at last, and as soon as it was 
fairly dark he made ready to go. 

He believed they would wait until early mid- 
night before attempting anything further 
against him. 

It was no more than fairly dark when the 
trapper moved cautiously back through the 
rear of the cavern, until he reached the narrow 
passage visited by him and Dick. 

Along this he crept in the same guarded 
manner, pausing at the tiny stream to quench 
his thirst. 

There was much suffering from his hurts, 
which were continually growing worse; but he 
did not permit the pain to retard his progress. 


FIGHTING FOR LIFE. 


223 


He had his gold with him, for he intended 
to run no risk of its falling into the hands of 
his enemies. 

At the end of a quarter of an hour, or there- 
abouts, the rear opening of the cavern was 
reached. 

If the Sioux had discovered this means of 
escape, his doom was sealed. 

After a little careful reconnoitring he was 
satisfied the way was open. 

A few minutes later, his long, crouching form 
moved carefully along the rocks, hugging the 
shadows, and gliding as silently as a phantom. 

It was not long before he had passed a dis- 
tance that assured him he was safe from all 
molestation of the Indians, so long as he used 
the most ordinary caution. 

Now came the time for a new departure, for 
it was impossible to proceed further without his 
horse, and he was somewhat doubtful about his 
ability to secure him. 

But for the disabling wounds, the hunter 
would have asked no better sport than to play 
back a trick or two upon the redskins, and, 
besides picking out their best steed, stampede 
the rest. 


224 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


But all he asked now was the chance to get 
away. 

Softly he whistled to the faithful creature, 
certain that, if he heard it, he would respond 
on the instant. 

But he feared that some of the prowling In- 
dians would recognize the call. 

Good fortune attended the poor fellow again ; 
for it so happened that his horse at that very 
moment was less than a hundred feet off. 

The signal was hardly uttered, when the de- 
lighted trapper heard the sound of his hoofs, 
and, in the dim moonlight, descried the beast 
coming toward him. 


CHAPTEE XIV. 


IN DESPAIR. 

When Black Sam found himself astride of 
his steed, with his gold intact, he felt a marked 
revival of spirits. 

There was a post known as Fort Adams lying 
in a southwest direction, and which he was hope- 
ful of reaching, by sharp riding, in two days. 

Accordingly, he headed in that direction, and 
as soon as it was safe, struck Screamer into a 
rapid gallop. 

This rate, however, could be maintained only 
at rare times, on account of the broken and 
rough nature of the ground. 

The wounds, in the course of an hour or two, 
began to trouble him again. 

When morning dawned, although he had 
made good progress, yet he was in a pitiable 
condition. 

He had a burning fever, his head was dizzy, 

and there were signs of delirium coming over 
15 225 


226 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


him that the trapper believed would in the 
course of a few hours be violent. 

He resolved, therefore, while he was master 
of himself, to take care of the gold. 

The best way to do this was by caching it, as 
it is termed, which simply means to bury it 
in some spot where no one but him who thus 
hides can afterward find it. 

As he had no means for digging, he sought 
out a place among the rocks, which were so 
abundant that little time was required to find 
what he wanted. 

When this was done, he hurriedly stowed 
away the buffalo bag containing the precious 
stuff, and then fixing the spot and its surround- 
ings in his mind, he remounted his horse and 
resumed his journey toward Fort Adams. 

The sun was up, but he felt no hunger. 

On the contrary, the same raging thirst 
burned in his system, and he often paused to 
drink. 

But his dizziness steadily grew worse until 
it was all he could do to prevent himself from 
falling from his horse. 

He shut his eyes, leaving the animal to him- 
self. 


IN DESPAIR. 


227 


But the moment he did so, it seemed as if 
his head were being lifted straight up from his 
body, and he opened his eyes again with a feel- 
ing of terror, such as comes over the strongest 
man at the sudden discovery that some great 
calamity is swooping down upon him. 

Strange fancies now began to appear, and he 
heard a peculiar humming. 

Then, too, when his eyes were wide open, the 
oddest sort of shapes and figures kept going 
and coming, flickering and brightening, float- 
ing at times high above his head, and then in 
his very face. 

He saw the forms of his associates of long 
years before, riding and walking at his side. 

Some of these were men that had died years 
previous — many had been shot while engaged 
with him in the perilous pursuit of the beavers 
and otters. 

Others had died at some fort, or in the cities 
to which they had made occasional pilgrimages, 
to spend their hard earnings too often in riot- 
ous living. 

Matters got worse and worse. 

The medley of sounds became more and more 
bewildering every minute; there was a con- 


228 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


stant buzzing and humming in his ears, and 
the flights of utter bewilderment grew more 
frequent and lasted longer. 

It seemed to the trapper that his senses were 
flickering, as it ma}’' be said, ready to depart, 
and yet held by the struggles of nature, which 
would not let them go. 

But the time came when they went. 

Black Sam was riding along in a slow, solemn 
fashion, leaving everything to his horse, when 
all at once he felt himself falling to the ground. 

He made a wild, vague effort to save him- 
self, but could not ; he remembered striking 
the earth, when all became blank darkness- 
utter unconsciousness ! 

When the trapper recovered his senses, he 
was lying on some buffalo-robes before a small 
camp-fire. 

Turning his head, as he thus lay, he noticed 
that there was a sort of roof over his head, 
though it was evidently made more to keep the 
wind off than anything else. 

The fire itself was built against a rock, that 
rose to a height of a dozen feet or so. 

Projecting from the top of this rock were 


IN DESPAIR. 


229 


several branches of trees, that reached three or 
four yards away. 

These were spread over with other branches 
at right angles, forming quite an effective 
covering. 

Sam was conscious of his weakness, but his 
head was remarkably clear. 

He cautiously raised himself on his elbow, 
and tried to look around, so as to learn more of 
his surroundings; but was not able to accom- 
plish much. 

He saw from the gathering gloom that night 
was closing in upon him ; but he gained enough 
to learn he was resting in a sort of gully or 
ravine, where it was not likely that the small 
camp-fire would be observed. 

He was pretty well walled in on every hand 
— so well indeed that the brief survey which 
he took satisfied him that the camping business 
had been looked after by some one who under- 
stood it. 

Who was the person? 

This was the question that came to the be- 
wildered trapper almost at the same instant 
that he regained control of his senses. 

He was, he now saw, entirely alone. 


230 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


With some difficulty he gained his feet, but 
he had no sooner assumed the upright position, 
than he was compelled to change it for a re- 
cumbent one. 

He had not the strength of a child ; and had 
he not come down as he did, he would have 
dropped in a fainting condition. 

“Wall, by gracious!” he exclaimed; “but 
it’s queer that I can’t see something ’round 
here that can give me some idea of how the 
matter stands.” 

But Sam had a good pair of eyes, and he 
used them to the best of his ability. 

There were signs showing that there had been 
many meals eaten in this camp, of which there 
could be no doubt that the weak hunter had 
had his due share. 

“Ef I’m in the hands of a party of them var- 
mints,” he muttered, as he continued the 
scrutiny, “they’re just nussin’ me up till I get 
well enough to enjoy thar way of cookin’ 
a prisoner; and if that are the way of the 
biz, why, I rather guess it’ll be a little while 
longer afore he gits as well as they want him 
to.” 

He was speculating as to how he would 


m DESPAIR. 


231 


“play ’possum,” when he was reminded of his 
peril by the sound of some one approaching. 

No pen can describe his relief when, as the 
figure emerged from the wood, and came into 
the narrow circle of light thrown out by the 
small camp-fire, he was seen to he a white 
man, about his own size, and attired in a dress 
which showed he belonged to the same pro- 
fession. 

More than that, the second keen look that 
Sam indulged in enabled him to identify the 
individual as an old acquaintance named Tom 
MacGill, with whom he had hunted and trapped 
many years before. 

He remembered him as a brave and generous 
fellow, who, as is often the case with such, 
was noted for his perpetual ill-luck. Of course, 
MacGill knew nothing of Sam’s recovery of 
reason during his temporary absence. 

MacGill had been off on a little hunting ex- 
pedition, for he bore a haunch of venison upon 
his shoulder, while he carried his rifle in one 
hand. 

Throwing the meat upon the ground, he took 
a seat on a large stone, and began preparing 
it for supper. 


232 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


He occasionally looked at Black Sam, who 
was lying on the ground, gazing at him in 
turn, although neither spoke a word. 

Only a few minutes were needed to prepare 
the venison for the fire, when Tom raked out 
a lot of coals, and spread a number of thin 
slices on it. 

As the game crisped and smoked over the hot 
embers, the odor reached the nostrils of the 
patient, and awakened something of his old 
appetite. 

“Wall, Tom,” said Sam, “hurry up and give 
a feller a few pounds of that ; thar’s a holler in- 
side of me that you might chuck a whole deer 
in, with a buffalo thrown in to fill the corners.” 

The trapper addressed stared as if some one 
had struck him. The expression of amazement 
and wonder was so marked that Black Sam 
laughed heartily at him. 

Noticing this, MacGill asked, in a low, scared 
voice : 

“Do you know what you’re ’bout, Sam?” 

Wal, I reckon I do, Tom. S’pose you give 
me your hand on it, old pard?” 

And the two shook hands in the warmest 
and most cordial manner. 


IN DESPAIR. 


233 


‘'When you axed about eating,” said Mac- 
Gill, " that sounded like old times, and I begin 
to think you war climbin’ the hill agin.” 

"Yas,” replied Sam, with a pleased look. 
"While you war off it all come back agin just 
as clear as noonday, and I war trying to figure 
out how the whole blamed thing war, when 
you come poking back with that venison on 
your shoulder, which ’minds me that it is time 
that I took a bite,” whereupon the speaker pro- 
ceeded to help himself to the savory food. 

"Easy now, Sam,” cautioned his friend. 
"You know that you’ve been sick a good while, 
and it ain’t the best thing for you to cram 
yourself to death.” 

It was Sam’s turn to look astonished, and 
staring straight into the face of his comrade, 
he asked: 

"How long have I been sick?” 

"Just guess, ’’replied Tom. "I’d like to see 
how near you’ll come it.” 

"I hain’t any more idea than a baby,” said 
Sam. "But on gin’ral principles, I should say 
it was two or three days.” MacGill laughed. 

"What a fool a man can be without half 
trying, as you’ve just showed ! For instead of 


234 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


being two or three days, it is all of two weeks, 
and a day or two over!” 

“Now Tom, ef it warn’t you, I’d say it war 
the biggest lie that I’ve heered in a year. But 
tell me all about it, for I’ll be hanged if I can 
remember anything at all.” 

“What’s the last thing you can recollect?” 

“ I call to mind that I tumbled from my horse 
to the ground— whar is Screamer?” abruptly 
asked Sam, as his own words recalled the 
memory of his faithful steed. 

“He’s all right,” was the reassuring reply, 
“and if it hadn’t been for that same animile, 
you’d bid under and passed in your checks long 
ago.” 

“Wall, I’m waitin’ for you to tell me the 
whole story.” 

“It won’t take long to do that. As I war 
Bayin’, it war a little over a fortnight ago that 
1 war upon Eoarin’ Creek ” 

“How fur is that from here?” interrupted 
Sam. 

“It ain’t six miles.” 

“All right,” responded the wounded man, 
“now I’ve got my bearin’s and you can go 
ahead, and I won’t bother you agin.” 


IN DESPAIR. 


235 


“ Wall, as I war sayin’, I war up on Eoarin’ 
Creek a couple of weeks ago ; though for that 
naatter, I war thar all winter, on the hunt for 
beavers and other critters.” 

‘‘How did you make out?” ventured Sam, 
once more. 

“You know how I ginerally do,” replied 
Tom, with a significant smile. “You remem- 
ber, don’t you?” 

“That warn’t very well, if I call to mind the 
way it war.” 

“You’ve hit it agin, Sam; in the whole 
season I took jest eight beavers, and I war get- 
tin’ ready to go home, sorter disgusted like, 
when what should I see but your animile, that 
walked right up to me with a whinny as though 
he knew me, which I sp’ose he did; ’cause he 
met me down in Omaha last summer, that 
time you and me went on that spree, and I 
hadn’t looked at him twice afore I knowed him 
too. Wall, that critter bit my arm in such a 
way that, not seein’ you either, made me sartin 
that something war wrong with you; so I 
started arter the critter.” 

“How far did he lead you?” 

“ All of a half a mile, and the wonder war 


236 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


how he ever found me; for the whole distance 
war over the roughest kind of ground that you 
ever sot eyes onto. However he found me and 
led me back to whar you war dancin’ over the 
ground as crazy as a bedbug. If I hadn’t 
many peltries on hand, I had a purty good 
stock of whisky, and I shoved a lot of that 
down your throat. Wall, you got sorter docile 
like and I hadn’t much trouble to get you to 
go ’long with me. I lifted you up onto 
Screamer, that seemed to know what the 
matter war and tried to help all he could. 
When I got you back to this place, me a 
steady in’ you on your critter all the way, you 
wanted to go to sleep. Wall, I seed you war in 
a purty bad way and I took a good look at your 
hurts. If I ain’t much on cotchin’ beavers, I 
know something ’bout docterin’ sick folks, for 
I’ve had a good deal of it to do; and I took 
you in hand at once. I seed thar war a ball in 
your thigh that would have to come out afore 
you could get well, and I went to huntin’ for 
it. It war a hard job, and I expected to have 
a hard time, as I had nothin’ hut my knife, and 
you kept out of your head; but, somehow or 
other, you war as docile as a skulped Injin; 


IN DESPAIR. 


237 


and, though it hurt you so much that you let 
out a groan now and then, yet you didn’t give 
me any trouble at all, and, at last, I fetched it. 
That, you know, war the best thing that could 
be done ; though you war so weak that I was 
afeard you would slide under. You war mighty 
sick for a while and needed purty good watch- 
in’ and nussin’, which war what I tried to do 
the best I knew how. Once or twice I thought 
to try and start fur Fort Adams with you ; but 
I war afeard you wouldn’t be able to stand it, 
and I kept you right here all the time.” 

“Didn’t the redskins trouble you any?” 

“Never a once; thar’s been plenty of ’em in 
the neighborhood, but they haven’t come too 
close. I’ve got a purty good hidin’ place here, 
and you warn’t in any danger at any time from 
the Sioux.” 

“And I’ve just stayed here all the time?” 

“That’s the idea exactly; you hadn’t the 
strength of a mouse, and all you done war to 
lay on the ground and look at me and never 
say nothin’ to nobody. You didn’t make me no 
trouble, by which anybody would ’ve knowed 
you war out of your right mind, ’cause you’re 
such a contrary cuss when you’re all right.” 


238 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


“Wall, Tom, I’ll pay you for this.” 

The other trapper turned upon him. 

“I’d like to know what you mean by that, 
Sam.” 

His patient laughed as he answered : 

“Now, you needn’t get huffy, old pard; for 
my idea ain’t to just to haul out a pile of 
stamps to hand over to you, ’cause if I did I 
ain’t the chap that carries that sort of thing 
’bout me. But you know that you’re a mighty 
onlucky cuss, and s’posin’ that I should show 
you a way that you could rake in a good deal 
more than you’ve done in all the last ten years, 
would you get your back up ’bout that?” 

“ Wall, that’s a different thing from what I 
thought you meant. When you come at me 
on that side. I’ll lean over and listen to it all.” 

“That’s just what I mean and nothin’ else 
But, to put it another way, I want to hire 
you.” 

MacGill’sface showed that he did not under- 
stand his old friend. 

Thereupon, Black Sam proceeded to tell the 
story of little Dick Stoddard. 

Tom MacGill possessed more education than 
is generally seen among his class, and he 


IN DESPAIR. 


239 


listened with the deepest interest to his com- 
rade. 

“I can’t ever sleep agin,” added Sam, ‘'if I 
don t do all I can to get the little chap away 
from the Sioux, and I do it for the love I bear 
him.” 

“So you mean to go on a hunt for him. 
Wall, the way you’re gettin’ along you’ll soon 
be able to start. You can go kinder slow at 
first, and by the time you get up ’mong the 
huntin’-grounds you’ll be yourself agin.” 

“ Yes, and afore that, too. That’s all right; 
but I want you to go with me.” 

“Of course I’ll do it, being as the trappin’ 
season is over.” 

“ The only way you can go with me is for mo 
to hire you out.” 

“Then I don’t go, that’s all,” was the blunt 
reply. 

“Wall, I see a way of puttin’ it in a better 
shape than that,” said Sam, as an idea struck 
him. “Old pard, you and me have allers been 
good friends, though I don’t know as we’ve 
done a great deal of trampin’ together; but 
you’ve just done me a turn that amounts to 
somethin’. Of course I’d done the same thing 


240 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


for you or anybody else. But that don’t make 
it any different. You’ve done it, and I’ve got 
a chance to do something for you.” 

“Wall, if it’s all right, why, it’s all right; 
let’s hear what it is.” 

“You know, Tom, that you and me have 
heard of a good deal of gold up ’mong the 
Black Hills; have you evev found any?” 

“Not the first sight, though I’ve heard of 
plenty that have; it wouldn’t he my luck to 
stumble over it.” 

“Wall, your luck has come at last; I know 
where thar’s enough of the yaller stuff to 
make you and me rich; thar’s no humbug in 
it either. If you’ll go with me on a hunt for 
the boy, I’ll show you whar it is, and help you 
to it. Will you go?” 

“I willP^ 

And so the compact was sealed. 


CHAPTER XV. 


HUNTING WITHOUT A CLEW. 

Sam was still so weak from his wounds that 
he was unable to stand all that would be re- 
quired of him ; but he possessed an iron will, 
as we have already shown, and he resolved that 
he would go at once or die on the way. 

Tom would have preferred to wait a day or 
more before starting, but he knew it was use- 
less to talk delay to his comrade. 

Both agreed that the marauding party that 
had taken the boy was to the north of them, 
which conclusion was reached, as it may be 
said, upon general principles. 

On the morning succeeding the return of 
Black Sam’s reason, the two mounted their 
horses and started in search of Dick Stoddard. 

It would have been hard to tell which was 
the more delighted — the horse Screamer or his 
owner. 

The meeting between them was quite touch- 
16 241 


242 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


ing, resembling that of two long-separated 
brothers. 

Once again on the back of his steed, breath- 
ing the clear mountain air, Sam rapidly re- 
gained health and strength. 

The air was charming, and, despite the 
rugged route, they encamped all of twenty 
miles to the north of where they had spent the 
last few weeks together. 

Sam was certainly much better, so much so 
indeed that he was willing to own that, at the 
time of starting in the morning, he felt so 
weak that he feared more than once he would 
have to give up. 

They saw several parties of Sioux, and along 
distance off observed a company of a dozen 
Blackfeet. 

MacGill carried a small spy-glass, which 
proved to be of much assistance. 

Taking advantage ofievery available lookout, 
they climbed patiently to the top, and surveyed 
the great expanse of country stretched out 
before them, with as sharp scrutiny as if their 
lives depended upon their detecting some sign 
of their enemies. 

Just as the sun was setting they made their 


HUNTING WITHOUT A CLEW. 243 

way to the crest of the highest elevation that 
they had yet ascended, and the manner in which 
they gazed directly northward proved they 
had discovered something of unusual interest. 

They exchanged the glass several times, and 
not until the sun sank behind the mountains in 
the west, and darkness closed in upon the scene, 
did they put away the instrument and look in 
each other’s faces. 

“Wall, Tom, what do you make of it?” 
asked Sam. 

“What do I make of it?” repeated his com- 
panion — “what could I make of it but a village 
of the varmints!” 

“How many do you calc’late is thar?” 

“Wall, that ain’t so easy to tell, for we didn’t 
have much light on the place when we got the 
first view. We’ll tell better to-morrer arter sun- 
up. But, Sam, thar’s the place whar we must 
make a call as soon as we can strike the spot.” 

“You’re right. It would be a good stroke 
of luck if we should happen to hit the little 
feller at the first lick.” 

“Yes. The thing mought happen, and it 
moughtn’t. We’ll see to-morrow.” 

As the darkness deepened, they retired to a 


244 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


secluded place, where they were sure of being 
hid from sight, and started a fire. 

They were in such an elevated region that 
the atmosphere had a tinge of winter’s sever- 
ity, and beside the warm fire they found their 
heavy blankets almost indispensable. 

It was the practice of the two hunters to 
bring down what game they needed as they 
were journeying through the day, so that when 
night came all they had to do was simply to 
cook it. 

In this way they kept themselves supplied 
without any delay. 

This practice was not without its disadvan- 
tages, for on one occasion, just as MacGill had 
raised his gun to fire at his game, somebody 
else fired and killed it, and he made the dis- 
covery that they were close to a large hunting 
party of Indians. 

No little care was required to avoid a conflict 
with them, and having gotten safely away, the 
greatest caution was necessary to prevent a 
meeting. 

All this was proof that they were in the heart 
of the Indian country, and liable to meet their 
enemies at any time. 


HUNTING WITHOUT A CLEW. 


245 


At the earliest ‘‘streakings of dawn” the two 
were at the lookout. 

The survey was anything but satisfactory. 

The conclusion was that the village was a 
collection of some fifty or more lodges. 

As that was a pretty fair dimension for a 
“town” in this part of the world, it was agreed 
that it should be visited at once. 

But while they were discussing it, Black Sam 
made the interesting discovery that there was 
still another village to the northwest that had 
escaped their notice. 

But it was really some miles nearer than the 
one which they had been studying so long. 

“It won’t do to give that the go-by,” said 
Sam; “an’ the only way to manage it will he 
for you to take one and me the other. What 
do you say to it, Tom ?” 

“I’m agreeable. Which ’ll you take?” 

“It don’t make any difference to me. I’ll 
try the one off to the left.” 

This was a wise proceeding, as each man 
was so skilled that he was as capable of pursu- 
ing the search alone as with another. 

By separating as proposed, when the work 
gave them the opportunity, they placed them- 


246 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


selves in a situation to do just twice as much 
as if they went together. 

The proposition of Sam was acted upon with 
the promptness that these veterans always 
showed. 

Their plan of action was very simple. 

They were to go at once upon their respective 
errands, and not return until each had made 
his reconnoissance so complete that there was 
no room for any mistake in the conclusions 
reached. 

A prominent elevated rock of a peculiar 
shape, placed some six or eight miles ahead, 
was agreed upon as the rendezvous where they 
were to meet in the evening, and report, pro- 
vided the work could he completed in that time. 

If either or both should find the task incom- 
plete, he would not leave the ground. 

And so Black Sam rode northwest, and Tom 
MacGill due north. 

Although Sam had a shorter distance to go 
than Tom, yet he was well convinced that it. 
would require more time, on account of the 
greater difficulties in the way. 

When noon came, he had not reached a point 
more than half-way to his destination, and he 


HUNTING WITHOUT A CLEW. 247 

made up his mind that it would be out of the 
question for him to attain the place where he 
and his friend were to reunite. 

‘‘ It don’t make any difference,” he muttered. 
‘‘ Tom ’ll know whar I am, if he gets back first, 
which ain’t sartin to happen anyway.” 

The latter part of the journey was much less 
difficult than the first, so that, when the after- 
noon drew to a close, the trapper found him- 
self so close to the Indian village, that he con- 
cluded to dispense with his horse and go it 
alone. 

Screamer could be trusted to himself, for it 
was certain that, whenever he took his master 
upon a scout of this kind, he comprehended all 
his responsibilities. 

Accordingly, his owner simply turned him 
loose, and went upon his own business. 

The first noticeable fact that struck the trap- 
per was that most of the warriors were absent 
from the village. 

This was favorable to the success of the 
hunter’s purpose, as he was less likely to en- 
counter difficulty in learning whether the boy 
was there or not. 

In case Dick Stoddard was with this branch 


248 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


of the Sioux, Sam was confident of his power 
to recapture him without much diflSculty. 

Eemoved so far from the frontier posts, the 
red men were not in the habit of guarding 
against stealthy attempts at rescue, for the 
reason that they were extremely rare. 

And, whenever the attempts were made, 
they were almost always in the interest of 
women, or girl captives. 

A bold effort at night, when conducted by 
such an old hand as Sam, was very likely to 
succeed. 

It was scarcely dark when the trapper 
cautiously placed himself as close to the vil- 
lage as was safe, and began to test whether 
the boy whom he was seeking was there or 
not. 

He made a complete circuit of the place, 
bringing himself, so near in two or three in- 
stances that he narrowly escaped detection. 

There were plenty of squaws and children, 
and he also observed a number of warriors and 
more old men. 

But the form that he valued more than all 
these together was not to be seen, nor could he 
discover any signs of Dick. 


HUNTING WITHOUT A CLEW. 


249 


This was not positive proof that the boy was 
not there. 

It was possible that he was sick and confined 
to his lodge, though Sam did not believe it. 

It was more likely that he was shut up as a 
prisoner. 

The trapper next determined to try a plan as 
original as it promised to be effective. 

While he was engaged in his reconnoissance, 
he saw more than one squaw going to and 
fro with some utensil in which water was 
carried. 

His plan was to arrest one of these, and 
extort the information he needed. 

In accordance with his scheme. Black Sam 
stationed himself near the stream, at a point 
where the water-carriers were in the habit of 
obtaining their supply, secreting himself so 
that he was secure against observation. 

He was not compelled to wait long. 

In fact, he was no more than fairly in posi- 
tion, when he descried a woman coming direct- 
ly toward him. The old woman was thinking 
of everything else but a call from a man of 
another race. 

As she drew near the stream, Sam actually 


250 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


heard her humming some sort of an Indian 
doggerel to herself. 

She was permitted to stoop down and fill her 
utensil without her ditty being interfered 
with. 

But as she straightened up, and turned 
around to retrace her steps, she found herself 
confronted by a terrible figure— that of a tall, 
gaunt man, in the garb of a white hunter. 

With a gasp, she dropped the pail, and was 
on the point of turning to flee, when the trap- 
per seized her arm, and said, in a low but 
ominous voice, in her own language: 

“If my red-face sister speaks loud or runs 
away before I tell her she may go, I will kill 
her. Let her do as I tell her, and all shall be 
well.” 

The woman made a desperate attempt to call 
out for help. 

But Sam, expecting this, grasped her by the 
throat, half-choking her to death. 

At the same time, he dragged her by main 
force some two or three rods to one side. 

When the squaw was at the last gasp Sam 
let up, and waited for her to recover. 

This took several seconds, and the first use 


HUNTING WITHOUT A CLEW. 251 

she made of her returning strength was to at- 
tempt another yell. 

But the captor was as ready as ever, and he 
squelched it before it rose to the dignity of a 
yawp, and scarcely a gurgle. 

My red sister can’t do that more than once 
again, when I’ll choke her so that she’ll go to 
the happy hunting-grounds of the departed 
warriors as quick as greased lightning.” 

By this time it began to creep into the head 
of the woman that her life depended upon her 
keeping quiet ; and she contented herself with 
a few swallows and gasps, until she was sure 
that the power of breathing had not departed, 
when she stood dumb and awaiting his orders. 

‘^Will my beloved sister keep still, and 
answer the questions that I ask her?” 

“I will tell my brother what he wants to 
know.” 

‘‘The Sioux have a younger brother of mine 
with them; they took him less than a moon 
ago. I’ve come for him. I want my sister to 
tell me where he is; which lodge is he in?” 

“There is no white boy with us,” she an- 
swered ; “ the warriors are off on a hunt, and 
they may bring him back with them.” 


252 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


“When did they start on their hunt?” 

“ Before the sun rose this morning. ” 

“If my sister tells me things that are not so, 
then I will kill her.” 

“I do not speak with a double tongue; I tell 
him the truth; nothing else shall I say.” 

Black Sam believed her. She held him in 
such terror that she dared not speak in any 
other way than truthfully. Besides that, if 
the boy was really in the custody of her tribe, 
he had spoken so that she must have believed 
that he knew it. 

The squaw was so bewildered, that she failed 
to comprehend the permission given her, and it 
was not until the trapper set the example by 
turning about and walking away, that she 
began to suspect she was free to do the same. 

Then she started with the suddenness of a 
shot. 

Sam was still walking in the direction of his 
horse, and had not taken more than a dozen 
steps, when he heard her shrill scream ring out, 
repeating itself with an ever-increasing vigor 
and power. 

“Sing away,” he muttered, as he increased 
his steps, “and see what good itTl do you.” 


HUNTING WITHOUT A CLEW. 


253 


However, he did not tarry. His long strides 
carried him rapidly forward through the wood, 
and when he had gone a little farther he paused 
and gave utterance to the well-known signal 
which he was sure would bring the animal. 

A minute later he rode off on his horse, head- 
ing toward the rock that had been agreed upon 
as the rendezvous. 

The distance was so great that, after several 
miles’ ride, he lay by until morning, when he 
resumed his journey. 

On reaching the spot, a few minutes satisfied 
him that Tom MacGill had not been there. 


CHAPTER XVL 

BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AGAIN. 

When two days came and went without any- 
thing being seen of Tom, Sam began to feel 
uneasy. 

However, his suspense ended the third day. 

It was near the middle of the afternoon, and 
the trapper was lying full length on the top of 
the rock, looking off over the miles of moun- 
tain, stream, prairie, and ravine, and specula- 
ting with himself as to the time that he could 
afford to spend in this fashion. 

He glanced from one village to another, the 
two being dim and faintly defined in the dis- 
tance, while here and there he was able to catch 
a glimpse of some of the warriors moving in 
different directions across the country. 

Probably he had gazed off toward the more 
distant town full a hundred times, and he 
turned his eyes once more in a listless way, 

when he observed a horseman crossing a nar- 
254 


BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AGAIN. 255 

row, open space, not more than a quarter of a 
mile olf. 

Bending his keen gaze upon him, he was im- 
mensely relieved to see that it was MacGill at 
last. 

The fellow continued approaching at a very 
leisurely gait, now hid from view by the inter- 
vening trees and rocks, and finally appearing 
under the very edge of the immense mass of 
stone, from which Sam had descended to meet 
him. 

The two grasped hands and greeted each 
other warmly, for they were rejoiced to meet 
after their separation. 

“Wall, Sam, you haven’t got the boy with 
you, I see.” 

“ No ; I haven ’t seed hide or hair of him since 
I went off on a fool’s errand. And I don’t 
s’pose you’ve done much better.” 

“ Not a bit ; the worst of it was that I thought 
I was on the trail and slammed ’bout for two 
days sartin that I’d fetch him back with me, 
and you see how I come.” 

Black Sam explained what he had done since 
their separation, and then asked Tom to tell 
how he had conducted his end of the line. 


256 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


“Wall, it won’t take me long to do that,” 
said the hunter, with a sigh of disgust. “I 
reached the village ’bout noon, and jest as I 
was drawin’ nigh, I seed a party startin’ off. 
That warn’t nothin’ very wonderful, but while 
I was watchin’ ’em from the top of a hill, I 
thought I seed a white boy with ’em. I 
grabbed for my glass, but you may shoot me 
if I hadn’t lost it. But I took another squint, 
and that satisfied me that the boy I wanted 
was thar sure ’nough. Wall, that was a com- 
pany goin’ off on a buffalo hunt toward the 
north, and all I could do was to foller, and 
wait for my chance to snatch him. Mebbe 
you know that it ain’t the easiest thing in the 
world to do, and it took some of the tallest kind 
of dodgin’ and diggin’ to save me from buckin’ 
aginst ’em ! Thar was so much of that sort of 
thing, you see, that it was a good while afore 
I could make out to get near ’nough to gain a 
squar look at the younker, and when I done so 
what do you s’pose it was? why it was nothin’ 
but a young redskin—a chief I s’pose— they 
was takin’ out for a duckin’ in the way of the 
hunt or war-path. W all, I took one good squint 
at him, and that was all I wanted. I hung my 


BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AGAIN. 257 


tail atween my legs, didn’t say nothin’ to 
nobody, and come straight back agin over my 
own trail, till I got to the village up yonder, 
whar I stopped long ’nough to make sartin he 
warn’t thar, when I come on back, and here I 
am.” 

And so the result of their more than three 
days’ labor was a failure. 

Where was Dick Stoddard likely to be? 

Where among all the different branches of 
the Sioux was it probable that he was held in 
durance? 

What was the next step to he taken? 

There were Sioux to the right of them, to the 
left of them, behind and in front of them. 

They were in the middle of the Indian 
country, and in whatsoever direction they 
turned, they were sure of encountering them. 

All this being so, the question remained as 
to whither they should turn to hunt for the 
stolen boy. 

The two sat down under the shadow of the 
rock, and as they smoked their pipes, discussed 
the situation. 

The case being as it was, it was agreed that 

the probabilities of success were just doubled 
17 


258 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


by their separating and pursuing their search 
independently of each other. 

Even then it can be seen that a great deal 
depended on good fortune. 

If they should happen to go wrong each time, 
or should conduct their undertaking in such a 
way that their business became generally 
known, and the Sioux thus warned, the difficul- 
ties were immeasurably increased. 

The latter contingency was hardly likely to 
occur in the case of two such experienced 
hunters as Tom and Sam. 

Both were well convinced that the life of 
Dick was in no danger from the hostiles. 

There was still a possibility that the boy, 
hearing the guns and shouts of the Sioux at 
the time of their attack upon Black Sam, had 
secreted himself, and kept out of their way. 

He might have managed to do this for a few 
days, but since he had no horse, it could not 
have continued long. 

So both agreed that he was alive and in the 
hands of the Sioux. 

Wall,” said Black Sam, when the night 
was close at hand, -I don’t see as we can do 
but one thing, and you know what that is.” 


BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AGAIN. 259 


“All right. Go ahead and finish it.” 

The trapper Sam drew forth his hunting- 
knife, and took the keen point between his 
fingers, holding it thus suspended for a moment. 

Looking at his companion, he said : 

“ The first is fur you and the second for me.” 

MacGill nodded to signify that he assented, 
whereupon he who held the knife gave it a 
dexterous flirt in the air. 

As it dropped to the ground, it fell in such 
a way that the point was turned to the north- 
west. 

Sam allowed it to remain for a moment, so 
that his friend might make no mistake about 
it. 

“It’s all right,” said Tom, in a low voice. 
“Now, let’s see what you make it. Up with 
her.” 

The same manoeuvre was repeated as before, 
and idle weapon fell with the point lying to the 
northeast. The two hunters laughed when 
they saw this. 

In brief, the meaning was that, in prosecut- 
ing the search for the lost boy, MacGill was to 
travel in a northwest direction, while Sam was 
to journey tov/ard the northeast. 


260 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


The programme that we have given was car- 
ried out as soon as the morning broke, and the 
buffalo steak was swallowed. 

One trapper headed his horse toward the 
northwest, and the other in a northeast direc- 
tion, and, waving each other a cheery good-by, 
they were soon lost to view, each intent upon 
his own duty. 

DifScult as was the road, Black Sam kept 
Screamer’s head toward the northeast, while 
his friends diverged to the northwest with as 
much exactness and fidelity. 

At the close of the second day, Sam was 
caught in a tremendous storm that forced him 
into shelter. 

It was one of those terrific flurries of the 
elements, such as are sometimes met with in 
the west, and which come up with the sudden- 
ness of the tropical storms in the low latitudes. 

This interference proved more serious than 
would have been supposed, for it so obstructed 
many of the ravines and paths which Sam at- 
tempted to follow, that he found himself on 
more than one occasion brought to a full stop, 
and compelled to make long detours. On the 
third morning, he struck an Indian village, 


BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AGAIN. 261 

which required two full days’ examination 
before he was satisfied. 

The reason for this was the discovery that 
there were two prisoners in the hands of the 
red men. 

They seemed to be a man and his wife. 

It was his wish to help the two out of cap- 
tivity, and had there been only the man, he 
might have succeeded ; but, in moving about, 
he was unfortunate enough to be discovered, 
and it was all he could do to get himself out of 
what threatened to be a bad scrape. 

Still hopeful, the trapper pushed on in the 
same general direction, and, within a few 
hours, came upon another settlement of hostiles, 
of about the same size as the one that he had 
just left in a little greater haste than was pleas- 
ant. He was more cautious this time, but the 
result was as dispiriting as before. 

When he reached the valley of the Yellow- 
stone, he was among such stupendous ex- 
hibitions of the grandeur of nature, that he 
would have stopped more than once, over- 
whelmed with awe, had he not gazed on the 
same wonderful scenery before. 

It was in the heart of this remarkable 


262 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


country that Black Sam at last drew up his 
horse, under the belief that there was no use 
in going further. 

“ What’s the use, Screamer?” he said, ad' 
dressing his animal as he was accustomed to do 
when they were alone. “It mought be that 
the varmints have come up this fur with the 
boy ; but the chances are ’bout one in a hun- 
dred, and we can’t afford to do bus’ness on 
such a little cap’tal as that. No; I’m of the 
’pinion. Screamer, that we are a good hundred 
miles off the trail, and we oughter turned back 
two or three days ago; but bein’ as we didn’t, 
the next best thing that we can do, are to do it 
now.” 

A cool day was drawing to a close, and the 
horse, which had carried his master many 
hours, was pretty well tired out, for the travel- 
ling had been of the most difficult nature. 

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, and the 
trapper, who had overcome many an obstacle 
that would have checked others, was sensible 
of a feeling something akin to despair, as he 
looked back over more than a week of the 
severest kind of labor, spent all in vain, while 
the prospect of recovering his young friend 


BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AGAIN. 263 

was further off, to all appearances, than 
ever. 

The worst of it, too, was he could not make 
himself believe that there was reason to hope 
much from the attempt of MacGill. He was 
quite certain that if he went back to the ap- 
pointed rendezvous empty-handed, his friend 
would do the same. 

Sam spent two full days in travelling almost 
due west, so that when he headed southward 
he was north of the appointed rendezvous, and 
was thus altogether out of the line upon which 
he had started. 

He was pressing southward, in his leisurely 
fashion, carefully noting everything that came 
under his eye, when he observed three Indians 
that had halted and kindled a small camp-fire 
in a ravine of slight depth. 

There was nothing remarkable in this, but, 
while scanning them in an idle sort of way, he 
observed that they had a prisoner. 

Supposing that he was some warrior, cap- 
tured from one of the neighboring tribes, he 
still felt enough interest in his fate to dismount 
and steal down into the ravine, hoping that he 
might be able to lend him a helping hand. 


^64 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


“ It looks to me as though them fellars wai 
makin’ ready to give that poor chap a roastin’. 
I make no doubt that he oughter, ’cause I 
never yet seed a redskin that it wouldn’t do 
good, and make a better man of him, to give 
him a cookin’ up in that style; but then that 
don’t make no difference to me. What I see 
are one Injin down and three on top of him, 
and I’m goin’ to sail in and help the under 
dog — that is, if thar’s a show to do so.” 

He was making his way in his careful manner 
when a slight noise in the undergrowth warned 
him that some one was coming, and he had 
barely time to get out of the way, when one of 
the three Sioux came hurriedly along the 
ravine and quickly passed out of sight. 

“That leaves me only two, ’’said the trapper, 
“and if I can’t get away with them, I hope 
they’ll take my topknot with ’em.” 

A minute later, he had approached near 
enough to gain a good view of the redskins and 
their prisoner. 

The amazement of Sam perhaps can be im- 
agined when he discovered that the captive 
was nobody less than his old friend, Tom Mac- 
Gill! 


BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AGAIN. 265 

“I might’ve knowed it,” growled Sam. “If 
thar’s any way of his getting into a scrape, he’ll 
do it.” 

But as Tom was caught, it only remained 
for Sam to do his best to help him out. 

And, furthermore, there was not much time 
to spare, either. 

Why the third Indian had gone away, was 
more than he could surmise ; hut, fearful that 
he might return and complicate matters, Sam 
concluded to strike in, and do what he could 
before there was danger of such interference. 

At a time like this there is nothing so effec- 
tive as a sudden and perhaps false display of 
power. 

Pausing but one full minute, Sam strode 
straight into the open space, and then, turning 
round, as if addressing some one behind him, 
he called out, in the Sioux tongue : 

“Quick now, and we’ve got the Sioux 
dogs!” 

The success of this audacious stratagem was 
complete. 

Certain that a force of white men were com- 
ing, the two redskins darted off, as if they 
already saw them, and they vanished on the 


266 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


instant, before indeed Tom comprehended 
what had taken place. 

‘‘Come, Mac,” said Sam, “I guess that the 
best thing is to dust out of this place as quick 
as we can.” 

“ Them’s my sentiments,” assented his friend, 
as the two left as hurriedly as they could. 

But the Sioux had been so thoroughly scared 
that there was little to be feared from them, 
and the trappers were unmolested. 

When they had reached a safe distance, Mac- 
Gill explained how it was that he came to be 
caught in such a predicament. 

Like his comrade, he had reconnoitred several 
Indian settlements without success, when, on 
his return, he also laid out a new route for 
himself, and, going to the right, thus brought 
himself close to the course of Black Sam. 

He conducted his task in as skilful a manner 
as his friend, so that his capture appeared to 
be a piece of his proverbial bad fortune. 

He had lain down to rest, and, as near as he 
could judge, had slept an hour or so, when he 
was awakened by the whinny of his horse, and, 
starting up, found he was in the hands of the 
three Sioux. 


BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AGAIN. 267 

The latter took his gun and animal, and 
were no doubt on their way to some one of 
their villages, when Sam appeared so oppor- 
tunely on the scene. 

In the hurry of their flight, the redskins left 
the gun behind, hut the horse was irrecoverably 
gone. 

“Sam,” said MacGill, in an apathetic voice, 
“ I think as a chap to steal a hoy hack from the 
varmints I’m a sort of failure.” 

“And I won’t quarrel with you on that 
score,” laughed Sam. 

“If it’s all the same to you. I’ll back out and 
go to Omaha, so as to get ready fur next win- 
ter’s trapping!” 

“Wall, old boy, you’ve done the best you 
could, and I’ll stick to my bargain.” 

And then Black Sam explained minutely the 
location of the golden rock, and told Tom that 
if he was of a mind to try his luck in digging 
a fortune from it, he was welcome to make all 
he could. 

He assured him still further that if he failed 
in this venture, as he half expected he would, 
he would meet him in the course of a few 
months in Omaha, and make it up to him. 


268 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


Poor Tom was only too glad to accept the 
kind offer of his friend, and, without his horse, 
he went off at once upon his new venture. 

Sam turned, with undiminished ardor, to 
continue his hunt for the lost Dick Stoddard. 

For more than three months, far into the 
summer, did the faithful trapper push his search 
for the boy, encountering all manner of perils. 
At the end of that time he made his way back 
to Omaha, without having met with the slight- 
est success. 

In the city, almost the first person whom he 
came across was Tom MacGill, who, he was 
glad to learn, had been favored with remark- 
ably good fortune for once in his life. 

He had found the golden rock, and managed 
to secure a supply of the precious metal, so that 
he was the richer by several thousand dollars. 

Once more the two joined forces, and spent 
the following winter in the hunt for the stolen 
boy. 

But with the same unvarying failure. 

The search was kept up for a year and more, 
until they were forced to believe that the poor 
fellow was dead I 


CHAPTER XVII. 


THE YOUNG CAPTIVE. 

We go back to the morning when Black 
Sam, the trapper, went out to look at the 
golden rock, while Dick Stoddard started off to 
catch enough fish for the morning meal. 

Dick could not be mistaken as to the mean- 
ing of the whoops and yells, and reports of 
guns. 

He knew the Indians were there, and he be- 
lieved, too, that Sam would not be able to main- 
tain himself against them. 

The question instantly came to him as to 
what he could do to escape a similar fate. 

In accordance with the instruction from the 
trapper, the boy always carried his rifie with 
him, and he now determined to leave the neigh- 
borhood, and alone try to reach some fort. 

The sounds of the guns and the shouts of the 
hostiles told him what direction not to take. 

He accordingly moved off in precisely the 
269 


270 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


opposite course, stealing along with the caution 
of an Indian scout. 

As yet, he had seen nothing of the redskins 
that were making all this mischief. 

He had scarcely started, when all sounds of 
the tumult ceased. 

A suspicion came over him that the trapper 
might have succeeded, after all, in eluding the 
savages, and that, as a consequence, it would be 
the worst thing he could do to seek to give him 
the slip in this fashion. 

After debating the matter awhile with him- 
self, he turned about and began carefully re- 
tracing his own steps, reaching the very spot 
that he had left but a short time before. 

All was as still as the grave, and he was 
not a little puzzled to understand why it was 
so. 

It appeared to him that he ought to see or 
hear something of Sam or the Sioux. 

‘‘Maybe they’ve killed or carried him off,” 
he said to himself, as he stood on the very spot 
where a few minutes before he had caught the 
fish which were to furnish them with their 
morning meal. “ If they have killed him, why, 
of course, I could not hear anything of him. 


THE YOUNG CAPTIVE. 


271 


And I don’t suppose if they were taking him 
away he would make any fuss over it.” 

Just then his fancies were broken in upon by 
the report of a rifle, sounding so near that he 
started and turned his head, believing that the 
Indian that fired it was within sight. 

But, fortunately, the position of the youth 
was such that he could not be seen for any great 
distance from any direction. 

Still Dick knew that the one who discharged 
the weapon was somewhere near, and he re- 
gretted that he had not kept on. 

At the end of a few minutes, another shot 
told the whole story to the dreadfully fright- 
ened boy. 

He knew that it came from the interior of 
the cave — ^that, in fact. Black Sam was firing 
from within at the Indians on the outside. 

As the boy stood wondering and listening, 
he recalled that the trapper had told him he 
had been caught in this same manner on more 
than one occasion before, and that he was able 
in every case to fight off his assailants, and felt 
his ability to repeat the feat at any time they 
might attack him. 

Such being the case, it was manifest that the 


272 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


only safe thing for the boy to do was to keep 
out of sight until the Sioux gave it up and de- 
parted. 

Dick had been in hiding but a short time, 
when, to his great terror, one of the warriors 
besieging the trapper appeared only a short dis- 
tance away, walking directly toward him. 

It seemed to the little fellow that there was 
no means of escape, and he raised the hammer 
of his rifle, determined to sell his life as dearly 
as possible ; but, at the very moment when he 
was about to take aim, the Sioux turned about 
and walked away. 

What it was that ever induced the Sioux 
to go in that direction was more than Dick could 
decide. 

‘'It looks as if it isn’t safe,” he thought, as 
he cautiously crept toward a clump of bushes 
a short distance off. “I don’t think they’ll 
find me in this place,” he added, as he shrank 
in as small a space as he could. 

Here Dick stayed the entire day, so wrought 
up and anxious, that he was unaware of the 
passage of time until he observed night closing 
In around him. 

During these trying hours he was kept in a 


THE YOUNG CAPTIVE. 


273 


state of excitement by the occasional crack of 
a rifle, and on one or two instances he heard the 
defiant yell of Black Sam ; but toward the latter 
part of the day these ceased. 

The great nervous strain which he suffered 
made the youth insensible to hunger; but he 
became so thirsty that he ventured to steal out 
to the brook, and he helped himself to a revivi- 
fying draught of water, that did much to in- 
spire him with renewed hope and courage. 

“Sam has kept them from coming in, just as 
he did before,” was his conclusion, as he crept 
back to the place; “and I guess they’ll make 
up their minds by to-morrow that it is no use 
and will go off.” 

Cheered by this belief, he became more com- 
posed, and soon feH into slumber that was un- 
broken through the entire night. 

When he awoke, the first thought that came 
to him was the conviction that he had made a 
sad mistake, and one, too, that was likely to 
prove fatal. 

He had never thought of the rear entrance 
to the cavern. 

“And Sam always had that to slip out by,” 

he added, “and that is what he has done last 
18 


274 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


night when I was asleep. Why was it that I 
didn’t think of it?” he asked himself, bitterly, 
as he believed that he had let the one great 
chance go. 

“Maybe he is in there now,” he said, as he 
crawled out of his hiding-place, “ and is wait- 
ing for me to go to him; any ways. I’ll try it.” 

Acting upon this impulse, he moved as care- 
fully as he could in a direction that led toward 
the cavern. 

On the way he saw and heard nothing of the 
ICndians, and he was half persuaded that they 
had departed in the darkness. 

It will be remembered that the outlet to the 
cavern was very hard to discover, which must 
have been the fact, or it could have been of no 
benefit to the individual who wished to use it. 

Dick had seen the opening both from the in- 
side and the outside, and yet, despite this, it 
took him a full hour to find it. 

He hit it at last, and, after some hesitation, 
stealthily entered the dark and “spooky” open- 
ing, and crept slowly and carefully along 
toward the cavern itself. 

He had forgotten the little stream of water 
to which we have referred in another place. 


THE YOUNG CAPTIVE. 


275 


He was reminded of it when, as he was mak- 
ing his way forward in a slow, stealthy fashion, 
he suddenly placed one hand in the cold ele- 
ment. 

He was so started for that moment, that he 
cried out and drew back. 

But remembering what it was, he laughed 
at his own fears, and resumed his work of 
journeying onward through the blank dark- 
ness. 

Threading his way along in this ghostly 
manner, he at last emerged into the cavern 
that had been his shelter for so many months 
during the dreary winter just passed. 

Here the oppressive darkness was relieved by 
a few faint beams of light that straggled 
through the crevices in the rear where he had 
entered, and also by those that came in the 
larger opening at the main entrance. 

The first thing he did was to pronounce the 
name of his friend, in a low voice. 

This he repeated several times, gradually in- 
creasing in loudness, until there could be no 
doubt the words filled every portion of the 
cavern. 

There was no response, for the person whom 


276 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


he sought was at that moment many miles 
away, and increasing the distance every mo- 
ment. 

guess he is gone,” muttered Dick, as he 
gave over the vain task; “he thought I was 
taken by the Indians, and there wasn’t any use 
of looking for me.” 

Fully twenty-four hours had passed since the 
boy had eaten a mouthful of food, and he was 
nearly famished. 

He remembered, even in his fear and trem- 
bling, that there was a supply of pemmican, 
upon which he had made many a meal, and he 
groped around until he found enough, which 
under the circumstances, was the best thing he 
could have secured. 

His meal finished, Dick naturally asked him- 
self what was the best course for him to take 
regarding his own safety. 

The fact that he had succeeded in reaching 
the cavern without seeing anything of the 
Sioux led him to hope that they, too, had gone, 
and that if he chose to make an attempt to 
leave such a dangerous place he was free to 
do so. 

If he only had a horse-path, he was quite 


THE YOUNG CAPTIVE. 


277 


oonfident he could make his way to Omaha, 
or at least to Fort Adams. 

A slight noise at the mouth of the cavern 
caused him to turn his head, and, to his inex- 
pressible terror, a painted Sioux came crawl- 
ing in. 

The sight paralyzed Dick, until he recollected 
that he had a loaded rifle in his hand ; hut, be- 
fore he could bring it to bear, he discovered that 
the redskin was closely followed by another. 

This was rushing things so fast that, instead 
of firing, Dick turned and tried to make his es- 
cape by hurrying through the passage he had 
used in entering the cavern. It is safe to say 
that he went out a great deal faster than he 
entered. 

But all his haste and effort availed him noth- 
ing. 

No doubt the Sioux had seen him enter the 
narrow passage, and were content to play a 
while with him as the cat plays with the 
mouse, knowing there was no possibility of 
escape. 

At the moment the boy came out of the open- 
ing, he found himself confronted by two other 
Indians, 


278 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


When the young fugitive saw them, he felt 
it was all up, and there was no use of trying 
to get away or to resist. 

Accordingly he stood still, and waited for his 
captors to come and do their will with him. 

Among all these Sioux there was not a single 
one who could talk broken English. 

Hitherto, those with whom Black Sam and 
Dick had been brought in contact knew enough 
to make themselves intelligible. 

But now the case was the other wav. 

The universal language, under such circum- 
stances, is pantomime. 

The Sioux went at it with a vigor worthy of 
all success, accompanying it with their own 
gibberish, as though they thought to help the 
captive to a better understanding thereby. 

Dick tried hard to learn what they were 
driving at, and suspected they were asking 
what had become of the trapper. 

All that he could do in the way of reply was 
to shake his head and say, “Gone, gone!” for 
he was warranted in saying that much. 

Sam was gone, beyond question, and Dick 
would have been glad if he could have known 
whither, or, better yet, if he could have pos- 


THE YOUNG CAPTIVE. 


279 


sessed the power of being “ gone” at the same 
time. 

There was something amusing in the action 
of the Sioux, who repeated the question fully 
a score of times, while Dick answered as 
promptly, and in as loud a voice, with the sin- 
gle monosyllable. 

Finally, they seemed to gather the fact that 
there was nothing to be gained, and they gave 
over the attempt. 

The redskins were angry over the trick that 
the trapper had played upon them. 

After they had succeeded in wounding him 
severely, he had not only paid them back with 
interest, but had fled in the night, when they 
felt certain they had him in their power. 

But here was the boy, who must be a great 
favorite of his, and his capture would be a 
slight recompense. 

It would be the easiest thing in the world to 
put him to the torture on the spot. 

Sam was right when he concluded that, in- 
stead of doing so, they would take him away 
as a prisoner. 

The Indians had horses, and made ready to 
leave the place at once. 


280 


THE GOLDEN BOOK. 


The warriors that had fallen victims to the 
skill of the trapper were lifted upon the ani- 
mals, a brave mounting behind each. 

Dick was placed before a brawny savage, in 
such a way that he could not fall off if he tried 
to do so. 

In this order the march was taken up, and 
the company started in almost due north. 

One of the first proceedings of the immediate 
capture of the boy was to deprive him of his 
rifle. 

Dick saw his gun pass from his possession 
with a pang. 

It seemed, in a measure, as though it was 
knocking one of his mainstays of hope from 
under his feet. 

The Sioux party started early and kept on 
until meridian, the warriors now and then ex- 
changing a word with each other; but no con- 
sultation was necessary, and they frequently 
went an hour at a time without a word. 

A dozen horsemen rode quietly along, as if 
they were all dead men, while three of them at 
least were as inanimate as so many logs of 
wood. 

As Dick now and then glanced at the lolling 


THE YOUNG CAPTIVE. 


281 


braves, held in position by those who had es- 
caped the bullet of the enemy, he was filled 
with a dread which he had never known before. 
It was, perhaps, the continual presence of death 
in this form that thus affected him, and caused 
the thought to come again and again that the 
living would surely take some woful vengeance 
upon him. 

He noticed that the party were following a 
well-beaten trail, as their animals went straight 
ahead. 

At times the way was quite rugged and hard 
to travel, but the ponies scarcely ever showed 
any hesitation, and the progress made could 
not have been surpassed by much fleeter beasts 
unaccustomed to the work. 

It was the fortune of Dick to be at the ex- 
treme end of the procession, so that he was 
given a good view of all that was going on. 

It was, perhaps, an hour beyond noon when 
the leader gave an order to halt ; on the instant, 
every horse came to a standstill, and the war- 
riors threw themselves to the ground. 

Two Indians immediately disappeared and 
were absent less than ten minutes, when the 
reports of their guns were heard almost to- 


283 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


gether, and shortly after both appeared, each 
bearing on his shoulders an antelope. In a 
twinkling the game was dressed and cooking 
over the fire that was awaiting them. 

The dinner was of a substantial nature, and 
the boy was permitted to eat all he could pos- 
sibly desire, after which the journey was re- 
sumed. 


CHAPTEE XVIII. 


LIFE AMONG THE SIOUX. 

Dick was unable to tell what the general 
course was, but, as he afterward learned, 
quite a change was made, the leader turning 
the head of his horse more in a westerly course, 
from which it will be seen that the boy was 
taken into the field of search which by lot fell 
to Tom MacGill. 

When the halt was made at dark, the same 
two hunters went off in quest of game, and 
came back with a fine supply of palatable 
fish. 

‘‘I think I’ll get a chance to run away to- 
night,” thought Dick, as he stretched out upon 
a blanket between two warriors. “ They won’t 
think I’ve any hope of escape and won’t keep 
such a close watch over me. And then I can 
fool them by making believe I’m asleep, and 
slip off in the night with a good horse.” 

This was an excellent plan, and he was en- 
283 


284 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


couraged by the many instances that he had 
read of Indian prisoneTs escaping in that way. 

Had the Sioux been in a hostile country, 
where there was danger of pursuit and attack, 
they would have taken many precautions with 
the captive. 

All that was done was to place him in the 
position mentioned, and to stretch out before 
the camp-fire, which was allowed to smoulder 
and gradually die out as the night progressed. 

No sentinels were stationed, the redskins re- 
lying on their well-trained ponies to notify 
them of the approach of danger, of which it 
may be said they had scarcely any. 

Dick was determined to keep awake all 
night, or at least until those around were uncon- 
scious. He managed to do better than would 
have been expected under the circumstances. 

The strong hope that was his served to keep off 
sleep for a time, and as he lay on the ground, 
with his eyes closed so as to deceive any who 
might be watching him, he soon became satis- 
fied that all about him were unconscious. 

He could hear their regular breathing, and 
when he took a stealthy peep, they were as 
motionless as sticks of wood. 


LIFE AMONG THE SIOUX. 


285 


‘‘I guess they’re asleep,” he thought, as he 
raised his head and looked across at the figures 
stretched on the other side the fire. 

To prevent all danger of detection, he waited 
a while longer, until sure the way was clear. 

By this time the camp-fire had smouldered so 
low that the forms on the other side the flames 
were invisible; but at the moment when he 
rose in a quiet way, there was a twist of fire 
that threw a momentary illumination over the 
scene, and caused him to pause and wait for it 
to go down again. 

Before it did so, Dick looked at the Indian 
next him, and his feelings may he imagined, 
perhaps, when he saw that the eyes of the war- 
rior were wide open ! 

Dick said nothing, but just then he thought 
it would be wise to pretend he was unaware of 
the fact. So he took a gaze across the camp- 
fire, where he was edified by the sight of a Sioux 
sitting up and staring back at him in turn, as 
if he was ready to answer any question the 
captive might choose to ask. 

Dick lay back again on the blanket, mutter- 
ing to himself : 

‘‘The Indians don’t sleep half as sound as I 


286 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


thought, or it may be that they weren’t asleep 
at all, and were waiting to see if I would try 
anything of the kind.” 

Whichever way it was, it was plain that 
there was no chance for the success of the plan 
that the boy had set his heart upon. All he 
could do was to wait till some other opportunity 
came. 

“I don’t believe they’ll keep it up all night,” 
he thought, as he lay wide-awake as ever, 
thinking over the great problem that now over- 
topped all others. ‘‘ I’ll shut my eyes again, 
and keep them shut for two or three hours, and 
then I’m sure they’ll be sound asleep, and I’ll 
get the chance to slip out and ride off on one of 
their best horses.” 

The first part of this programme Dick carried 
out to the letter. 

He kept his eyes shut for the two hours he 
had fixed upon in his own mind. 

But when the time was up he forgot to open 
them again. 

In short, he was never more soundly asleep, 
and he remained in that state until broad day- 
light. 

The journey of the next day was very much 


LIFE AMONG THE SIOUX. 


287 


like that already described, no halt being made 
until noon, when they all took dinner. 

The course still continued northwest, the 
way becoming so rough that at times it was 
little more than climbing up the mountains 
and picking their course down again. 

Then they threaded their way through 
ravines and gorges, and beside dizzy precipices, 
where Dick passed so near that he closed his 
eyes to shut out the sight. 

He had seen and become accustomed to many 
impressive displays of the rugged grandeur of 
nature, but the Indian ponies performed feats 
of horsemanship that caused him to shudder. 

When the sun set, the Sioux went into camp 
again, just as they did the night before. 

‘‘That’s lucky,” thought Dick; “for I’ll get 
a better chance than I had last night, and they 
won’t be expecting me to try it again.” 

But when he lay down after supper, he fell 
into his usual slumber, which, as before, 
was not broken through the entire night, 
though the Indians kept the camp-fire burning 
brightly. 

The next morning was less than half gone, 
when the leader of the party gave three whoops. 


288 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


that were responded to almost instantly by the 
same number from beyond a rocky ridge direct- 
ly in front of them. 

A few minutes after they rode up this ridge, 
and as they reached the top, all saw the Indian 
village spread out before them. 

Dick could not but contemplate it with the 
greatest curiosity. 

It was too small to be a town of any impor- 
tance, containing no more than twenty lodges 
altogether. 

These were arranged along the bank of a 
stream some thirty yards in width, the waters 
of which rushed impetuously from the side of 
a mountain. 

Scarcely had the horsemen appeared, when 
the whole population came forth to meet 
them. 

The reception was boisterous. 

But as the company bore dead bodies of 
several brave warriors, there was more lamen- 
tation than rejoicing. 

No one seemed to notice Dick. 

The Indian who shared the steed with him 
rode quietly forward till he came opposite a 
small lodge near the middle of the village. 


LIFE AMONG THE SIOUX. 


289 


when he halted, sprang off his horse, and reach- 
ing up his hand, helped Dick to the ground. 
The boy obeyed and walked into the Indian 
dwelling, by pulling a buffalo-robe aside. 
When he looked around for the man who had 
brought him, he was not to be seen. 

The house was of an oblong square in shape, 
made of a mixture of the branches of trees, sods 
of dirt, and the skins of animals. 

At the further end was the fireplace, which 
was of the simplest description. 

The outlet, or chimney, was a circular open- 
ing at the top, with nothing to prevent rain 
and snow from beating in upon the occupants. 

Two or three buffalo-robes at the side served 
as couches, and there was nothing visible in 
the way of stools or chairs. 

“I suppose I’m to stay here,” thought Dick, 
as he stood surveying his surroundings, “but 
I don’t mean to stay long. They can’t watch 
me all the time, and I’ll give them the slip 
when they aren’t thinking.” 

As he feared to meet the rabble on the out- 
side, he concluded to stay within doors, as long 
as he was allowed to do so. Accordingly, he 

sat down upon one of the buffalo-robes, and 
19 


290 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


tried to make himself comfortable until the ex- 
citement died out. 

The uproar was frightful, and he shuddered 
more than once, imagining that it was coming 
so much nearer his lodge, that some of the red- 
skins intended to enter and take vengeance 
upon him for the work of the trapper, Sam. 

At the end of an hour the two long drooping 
buffalo-robes that answered as doors were 
pulled aside, and his warrior companion 
stepped in. The savage spoke to him as he 
took a seat on the other side of the lodge ; but, 
as it was in the Indian tongue, Dick was not 
able to make an intelligent answer. 

The warrior said no more, but stretched out 
on the floor, drawing the robe up around him, 
as though he meant to treat himself to a nap. 
And this proved to be the case. 

A few minutes later, he was breathing so 
deeply and regularly, that there could be no 
doubt of his somnolent condition. 

Dick would have done the same, had he not 
been so wrought up by the novelty of his new 
situation, and by a dread that he was about to 
receive an unfriendly call from some of the en- 
raged mourners. 


LIFE AMONG THE SIOUX. 


291 


The warrior slept for two hours, when he 
awoke and went out without noticing the cap- 
tive. 

“ Well, I wonder if I’m to sit here all day,” 
thought Dick, “or will they let me take a look 
outside.” 

There came a change before night, how- 
ever. 

When the afternoon was half gone, the same 
warrior returned, bringing with him a squaw, 
who, from her bent form and wrinkles, was 
probably his great-grandmother. 

These two held a consultation for a few 
minutes, and then the old woman set to work 
building a fire. 

Although of great age, she was lively and 
active. 

When the fire was completed, she began to 
prepare a meal. 

Besides the well-cooked game, which always 
forms part of the regular diet of the redskins, 
there was a preparation of some sort of wild 
fruit, the like of which Dick had never met 
before. 

He found the taste quite pleasant, and using 
his fingers as knives and forks, just as the other 


292 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


two did^ he made a nourishing meal, and ate 
all that he wished and more than he really 
needed. 

He still remained in the house as much as 
possible, for he could not free himself of a 
belief that he would be in danger if he ven- 
tured outside. 

The only event of the afternoon and evening 
that Dick remembered was the visit of a war- 
rior who spoke English better than any Indian 
he had bver known. 

His skill, indeed, in that respect was remark- 
able. 

He was a young brave, hardly grown, and 
seemed to be a brother of the one who had the 
boy in hand. 

This Indian asked many questions of Dick, 
and among others his name. 

When told, he did not act as if he had ever 
heard it. 

When there seemed to be nothing left for 
him to learn, Dick timidly ventured to ask 
what the Sioux meant to do with him. 

He learned that the Indians intended to keep 
him as long as he lived. 

The young warrior then added that he was 


LIFE AMONG THE SIOUX. 


293 


to be adopted by the old lady, who needed a 
boy to help her in her work. 

This was better news than the captive ex- 
pected, and he took occasion to thank his in- 
formant. 

He learned, also, that the entire household 
consisted of the old woman and her grand- 
son. 

The younger brave was also a relative. 

But he was married, and, with his family 
occupied a lodge of his own. 

After the departure of this English-speaking 
Sioux, Dick stretched out upon the buffalo-robe 
and slept until morning. The succeeding three 
days were trying ones to the captive. 

The whole village was in mourning for that 
time, and the lamentations were enough to 
drive one distracted. 

The boy, having ventured outside to take a 
look at the howling creatures, was suddenly set 
upon by two women, and dreadfully beaten. 

It was a week before he recovered and went 
among the villagers again. 

He seemed then to drop into place as a mem- 
ber of the Sioux family, and no one showed a 
disposition to harm him. 


294 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


About two weeks after his capture a grand 
hunt was organized. 

He was taken along by his adopted brother, 
much to the disgust of the old squaw. 

This hunt was continued many days, and 
during his absence the village was reconnoitered 
by Tom MacGill, who, as a matter of course, 
went off with the impression that the lad be- 
longed anywhere except at that particular set- 
tlement. 

The location of the Sioux village was so 
secluded that Sam, in all the long hunt he 
nade, never saw it but once. 

He then had so little faith in the boy being 
there, that his reconnoissance was of a super- 
ficial character. 

From the first, Dick was determined to es- 
cape, but he little dreamt that so long a time 
must pass before his chance would come. 

The old squaw was never at a loss to find 
plenty of work for him to do, in providing wood, 
carrying water, and numerous other chores. 

When he did not suit her, she belabored him 
with a stick or whatever came in her way. 

There was little or no affiliation between Dick 
and the young Sioux around him. 


LIFE AMONG THE SIOUX. 


295 


They took pleasure in tormenting him when- 
ever the chance came, and as nobody interfered 
with their amusement, the only thing the cap- 
tive could do was to keep out of their reach as 
much as he could. 

Most of them were larger and stronger than 
he, and in case of his attempting to take his 
own part, he would have had the whole pack 
on him, and so he was only wise in avoiding 
anything of the kind. 

During the first six months he was frequent- 
ly taken on hunting excursions; but he was 
more of a hindrance than a help, so he was left 
at home with the old squaw. 

A full year passed, and still the coveted 
chance failed to appear. 

He developed wonderfully. 

There was something in this out-door life, 
and free pure air, that was just the thing for 
one of his years, and his health could not have 
been better. 

He had long since given over all hope from 
his old friend Black Sam, the trapper. 

Indeed he had come to the conclusion that 
the two would never meet again in this world. 

As the weeks grew into months, he became 


296 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


more cautious, until the danger was that of 
letting some good chance pass and becoming 
confirmed in the belief that he was fated to 
stay his natural life in captivity. 

What he looked upon as indispensable to suc- 
cess were a gun and horse. 

It was not until a long time after his capture 
that he was favored with a sight of the rifle 
taken from him when he fell into the hands of 
the war party ; but one day, greatly to his sur- 
prise, it was placed in his possession by the In- 
dian who talked English so well, the donor tell- 
ing him he was at liberty to go on a hunt in the 
forest if he so desired. 

Dick went, hut he knew very well that the 
whole thing was a ruse to test him, and he took 
good care to return at night, as if no thought 
of running away had ever entered his head. 

But, though long deferred, the day was to 
come for the attempt 'to be made. 


CHAPTEE XIX. 


THE FLIGHT OP DICK. 

Two years had passed, and Dick Stoddard 
was still a prisoner, apparently with no nearer 
prospect of escape than when he first came 
among the Sioux. 

One year after his capture, the Indians moved 
two hundred miles northward, so that they were 
at no great distance from the line which divides 
the Dominion of Canada from our own country. 

Here they halted, and settled into their old 
habits of life. 

The second winter was one of temhle se- 
verity. Dick saw a dozen chances of getting 
away, but he did not dare make the attempt. 

The Indians had a hard time to procure game 
to support life, and Dick suffered also. A con- 
stant roaring fire and an abundance of warm 
robes were all that saved him from freezing. 
There were weeks that recalled vividly the 

previous months that he and Sam had spent 
297 


298 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


among the trapping runs of the upper Yellow- 
stone. 

It would have been sure death for him to at- 
tempt to face those winds that came howling 
and moaning around the rocks and lodges, 
whirling the snow in eddies, the particles cut- 
ting the face like myriads of needles. 

‘^There’s no use of my trying to run away 
in the winter time,” was his decision, ‘'for I 
and my horse would freeze before we could get 
out of sight of the place. I must wait for 
summer or spring to make a start.” 

He affected to be well -satisfied with his state 
and his captors at last relaxed in a great meas- 
ure their watchfulness over him. 

He had laid his plans long before, and he 
was wise enough to resolve that nothing should 
tempt him to make his start until everything 
was in the exact shape to suit him. 

Now and then the old squaw allowed him to 
wander off for a few hours’ hunt with his rifle; 
but he had not dared to ask for a horse through 
dread that his object would be suspected. He 
was determined never to try to get away with- 
out a good horse to ride. 

At last he hit upon a scheme. 


THE FLIGHT OF DICK. 


299 


He waited until the majority of the warriors 
were absent on a hunt. 

They left behind, as a matter of course, a 
number of their horses, as they left the owners 
also. 

Dick did his best to please the old squaw, by 
anticipating her wishes in the way of work, so 
that when he asked her in Indian if he might 
go on a short hunt in the forest, she made no 
objection, as Dick started off precisely as he 
had done on scores of occasions during the pre- 
ceding two years. 

He sauntered along in the most indifferent 
style, while no one who looked at him would 
have suspected that his heart was throbbing 
with the greatest hope of his life. 

He had reached the end of the village, with 
the purpose of entering the woods, when he ob- 
served that an Indian boy, with a gun on his 
shoulder, was following him. 

Dick knew him to be one of the worst lads 
in this branch of the Sioux, and one who 
had always shown a delight in tormenting 
him. 

To take him as a companion would not only 
guarantee a collision between the two, but 


300 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


would most effectually prevent the carrying out 
of the white boy’s plan of escape. 

Dick was in a sore strait, and believed for a 
few minutes that he would have to give over 
all hope of getting off till the morrow, but he 
recalled the ugly nature of the little Indian, 
and a happy thought struck him. 

Pausing on the margin of the forest he asked 
him where he was going, to which inquiry he 
received a sullen answer that he was on the 
way for a hunt in the woods. 

Dick then expressed great delight thereat, 
and begged the boy to go with him. 

This was enough. 

Although the dusky urchin had started out 
with the undoubted intention of accompanying 
the captive, yet now that it appeared his com- 
pany would be agreeable, nothing could have 
induced him to go along. 

Muttering some ill-natured expression, he 
turned off, and was soon lost to view in the 
forest. 

Dick smiled as he saw how well his little plan 
had worked, while he sauntered toward the 
wood until he, too, was lost to sight from the 
direction of the village. 


THE FLIGHT OF DICK. 


301 


He never once looked behind him, till he was 
sure the act would not be seen by any one ; and 
then, when he found he was alone, he stopped 
and peered around, to learn whether there was 
any likelihood of his being noticed by any 
Indians that might be wandering in the 
vicinity. 

There did not seem to be, and he made an 
abrupt turn to the left. 

Walking in this direction for a short dis- 
tance, he reached a grazing ground of the 
horses, where there were nearly a score of 
ponies. 

Dick knew them all, and was able to pick 
out the fleetest and most enduring. 

“There he is,” said he. “He belongs to the 
chief, and if he should overhaul me after try- 
ing to run away with his horse, wouldn’t he 
make me dance?” 

But the only way of doing anything was by 
some bold stroke like this ; and, as the boy had 
included such a “dash” in his scheme, he began 
a cautious approach of the steed, which was 
grazing near the end of the tract with his 
bridle on, as if his owner intended to make 
speedy use of him. 


302 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


The fleet-footed steed seemed disposed to re- 
sent the approach of the boy, but he was well 
trained, and as Dick used some signals that 
were employed by the chief in controlling the 
animal, he soon got within reach of his halter, 
and the next moment was astride of him. 

He paused long enough to look around and 
learn whether any of his enemies saw him ; 
but the way was clear, and he started the horse 
as fast through the forest as the nature of the 
ground would permit. 

He had carefully employed the time spent on 
his former hunting excursions in acquainting 
himself with the country lying immediately to 
the south, and he had gained a good knowledge 
of the route for a dozen miles. 

There were trails leading in every direction 
from the Sioux village, and Dick struck one of 
these and followed it with the utmost speed. 

The horse had not been in service for several 
days, and was in so high spirits that he needed 
no urging on the part of his rider, anxious as 
he was to get forward as fast as possible. 

As the beast warmed with the exercise, he 
whinnied with delight, and went at a headlong 
pace, Dick narrowly saving himself from being 


THE FLIGHT OF DICK. 


303 


swept from his back by the use of all the agil- 
ity at his command. 

For the first hour of his flight he was 
haunted by a dread that some one was pursuing 
him ; and it is safe to say that he twisted his 
neck and looked around fully a hundred times 
during that period. 

Several times he was certain he heard the 
sound of the hoofs of a pursuing horse; and 
once he was sure he caught the call of the 
squaw, as she shouted for him to do some work 
for her; but these were only freaks of imagi- 
nation. 

He kept the steed at high speed, and never 
drew rein until night was at hand. 

Dismounting, he tied the animal to the limb 
of a tree, and ate a supper of cooked meat 
which he had managed to carry away. 

At the same time, he gave the beast, upon 
which he depended to such an extent for his 
safety, plenty of room to feed upon the grass. 

The night was very dark, but the boy knew 
the moon would be up in the course of an hour 
or two, and he waited for that, determined to 
keep up his flight to the last minute. 

There was no danger now of his falling 


304 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


asleep, when so much depended on his keeping 
awake ; besides he had grown in mind as well 
as body during the last two years. 

The weather was clear and mild, and after 
a while the round, full moon came up above 
the horizon. Leaping upon the back of his 
steed he took the trail again, and sped south- 
ward as fast as was safe or prudent. 

He had studied his flight so long, that he 
had thought of nearly every danger he was 
likely to meet. 

One of these that he held in special dread 
was the necessity that forced him to follow a 
well-marked trail, thereby exposing him to the 
danger of meeting some of the Indians return- 
ing to the village. 

This peril served to retard his progress, for 
he frequently stopped to look and listen for the 
sound of the coming footsteps. 

But the farther he got from the village the 
less likely was he to encounter his enemies; for 
they were apt to stop and go into camp rather 
than continue their journey late into the night 
when there was no need of doing so. 

On the morrow the danger would be renewed, 
and would last for several days. 


THE FLIGHT OF DICK. 305 

It was near midnight, and he was feeling 
more hope than had been since his starting, 
when he was alarmed by the action of his 
horse He threw up his head and gave utter- 
ance to a faint whinny that could not have 
been heard more than a dozen yards away. 

But the wide-awake fellow suspected what 
it meant, and instantly drew his animal to one 
side, forcing him into the bushes far enough to 
be invisible to any one who might be passing 
along the trail. 

He had no sooner reached this shelter, than 
he heard the sound of hoofs in the path, and 
knew that a number of his enemies were 
near, and coming dangerously nearer every 
minute. 

His whole fear now become a dread that his 
horse would reveal him to the redskins by re- 
peating his whinny. 

The beast was so well trained, that he would 
not do this if the horsemen belonged to another 
tribe, but Dick thought the steed would recog- 
nize them as his friends. 

Closer and closer came the sound of the hoofs 
on the earth, the noise being muffled and so 
soft that, but for the signal of the animal, Dick 
20 


S06 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


never would have detected his danger until it 
was too late. 

It seemed to him as he sat on his horse, 
scarcely breathing, that the redskins would 
hear the beating of his heart, so great was his 
dread of his steed betraying him. 

But it must have been that the beast did not 
suspect the identity of the party, for the boy 
himself was less quiet than he. 

So far as Dick could judge, there were no 
more than five or six Indians, but, for all pur- 
poses, that number was as effective as a hun- 
dred, and held in as great fear by him. 

Close as were his enemies, the terrified fugi- 
tive was unable to catch the least glimpse of a 
single form. They went by like so many gob- 
lins of the night, and were soon beyond hear- 
ing. 

Dick waited some time after the sound of the 
hoofs died out before he ventured to return to 
the trail and resume his flight. 

It was fortunate for him that the point where* 
he met these hostiles was so deeply shaded that 
one’s eyes were of no account, otherwise his dis- 
covery would have been inevitable. 

After a time the young fugitive came out 


THE FLIGHT OF DICK. 


307 


into the moonlight again, when the speed was 
increased, and with little variation kept np till 
the sun appeared. 

By this time he felt the need of rest, but he 
halted only for a short period, during which 
he ate some more of the “lunch” he had 
brought. 

At noon he was so used-up, especially on ac- 
count of the want of sleep, that he was com- 
pelled to halt. 

Securing his steed to a limb, so that he was 
able to eat and drink from a small stream near 
at hand, Dick threw himself upon the ground 
and immediately fell asleep — his purpose being 
to resume his journey at moonrise. 

But he and his animal were in more need of 
rest than he supposed, and he slept the entire 
afternoon and the following night, his eyes 
never opening until the sun was shining in his 
face. 

He was half-frightened out of his wits, hut 
the horse was quietly nibbling the grass, fully 
rested and ready for another severe strain upon 
his endurance. As quickly as possible, the hoy 
was upon his back again, and urging him to 
his utmost. 


308 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


“Like enough there’s a whole lot of Indians 
close behind me,” he muttered with a shudder, 
as he glanced affrightedly to the rear. 

But none was to be seen, which might have 
been the case with his enemies within striking 
distance. 

He had only a small portion of his “lunch” 
left, and he ate that while his horse was gallop- 
ing forward. His next meal would have to be 
secured by his rifle. 

At noon, he found that he was on quite an 
elevation, and he took the occasion to make as 
careful a survey as possible of the route behind 
him. 

The air was clear and the view extended 
backward until terminated by an elevation all 
of two miles distant. 

Following the path along which he had made 
his way, he failed to detect anything that 
looked like horsemen, and it seemed safe to as- 
sume that he had that much the start of all 
pursuers, whoever they might be. 

But the eye of the boy was arrested by 
a black line of smoke ascending from the 
elevation which was the extreme limit of his 
vision. 


THE FLIGHT OF DICK. 


309 


The distance was too great for him to dis- 
cover any signs of those who had kindled the 
fire. 

“I’m sure the chief is there with a whole lot 
of warriors after me,” muttered Dick, when 
he had contemplated the vapor for several 
minutes. “They aren’t very far off, either, 
and I’ve got to make better time than I’ve 
done yet.” 

It is hardly probable that the fears of the lad 
were well-founded. But it was well he should 
be alarmed. 

He did more effective travelling than he had 
done since starting. 

The trail that he had been following so long 
now disappeared. 

The signs or footprints gradually grew 
fainter, until they vanished altogether. 

Why this was so can be explained by show- 
ing the manner in which these trails are made. 

When the Indians left their village for a 
hunt they went together until they were in the 
particular section in which they expected to 
take the game. 

There they separated and hunted as the 
whim took them. 


310 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


When they were ready to return home, they 
travelled in twos, threes, and all sorts of par- 
ties. 

As all were aiming at the same destination 
many miles away, they gradually converged as 
they neared the village, until they finally struck 
the same line of approach to the lodges, and 
the various paths blended together. 

The nearer the village the more plainly 
marked was the trail, and the farther off the 
fainter it became, until it vanished altogether. 

During the afternoon, the fugitive took 
several chances to look hack. 

In no case was he able to detect the slightest 
sign of his pursuers. 

This was by no means proof that he was 
free from danger from the Sioux he was trying 
so hard to leave behind. 

He was sure they would do everything they 
could to recapture and punish him for the 
crime he had committed against them in not 
only running away, but in taking the best 
horse. 

But it would not do for him to forget that 
there were other Indians in these parts besides 
those from which he was fleeing. 


THE FLIGHT OF DICK. 


311 


He was reminded of this fact just before 
nightfall by the discovery of another camp-fire, 
this time almost in front of him. 

This, he was convinced, could not he caused 
by his pursuers. 


OHAPTER XX. 

CONCLUSION. 

The belief of Dick Stoddard that the camp- 
fire did not belong to his enemies led him to 
determine to find out to whom it did belong. 

Riding as near as was prudent, he left his 
horse among the trees and undergrowth^ and 
cautiously stole forward. One of the greatest 
surprises of his life followed a few minutes 
later. 

Two white men, in the garb of hunters, were 
seated near a small blaze, smoking their pipes. 
They had evidently finished a meal a short time 
before, and were now enjoying themselves in 
characteristic fashion. 

One of them was Black Sam, the trapper, and 
the other a stranger. 

Without hesitation, Dick walked forward 
and saluted his old friend. 

The meeting between them maybe imagined. 

312 


CONCLUSION. 


313 


At first, the old hunter did not recognize the 
tall, manly youth, but when he heard his voice 
and laugh, and looked a second time into his 
face, he leaped off his feet and wrung his hand 
till it ached. 

“Are you sartin it is yourself, younker, or 
your ghost? I’m blessed if it ain’t your own 
purty self. This is my friend, Tom MacGill,” 
added Sam, still shaking the hand which he 
seemed unwilling to release. 

The meeting was a most joyful one in every 
respect. The words of the three so crowded 
each other that it was a long time before any- 
thing like an understanding was reached. 
When Dick ventured to express some fears of 
being molested by Indians, Sam assured him 
there was no cause for fear. They understood 
the country thoroughly, and though there were 
Sioux at no great distance, they would come 
no nearer, at least not near enough to cause 
them trouble. 

Then the boy sat down and told his story. 
Enough food was left to furnish him a good 
meal, and, at the suggestion of his friends, he 
brought his horse to the spot where their own 
animals were grazing. 


314 


THE GOLDEN ROCK. 


It was a strange story which the youth had 
to relate, and the hunters had an interesting 
one of their own to tell. They had been work- 
ing at the Golden Eock until they secured about 
all the precious naetal it contained. There was 
enough to load several pack-horses, and they 
were now on their way back to the States with 
the valuable stuff. 

It was like them to insist that Dick should 
accept a liberal portion, but he absolutely re- 
fused to take more than a small quantity. He 
felt he had no real claim on it, but since he 
possessed no means at all, he allowed his friends 
to present him with several hundred dollars’ 
worth of ore. 

Two week later, the party arrived in Omaha. 
Dick readily disposed of his portion, and then, 
as he had no ties binding him to the East, he 
expressed his determination to go to California, 
despite the woful experience he had already 
undergone. There was a feeling, as he ex- 
pressed it, that it would be cowardly to give up 
after one failure. He took care, however, to 
join a company large and strong enough to prO' 
tect itself against all manner of danger. He 
reached the Pacific slope in due time and made 


CONCLUSION. 


315 


his home there. The success which attended 
his young and mature manhood has already 
been made known in the “ Introduction” to this 
ower true tale. 


/ 


THE END. 


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